US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Removed from Office in Historic Vote
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been ousted from his position, marking the first time in the country's 234-year history that a Speaker has been removed by the House of Representatives. The challenge to McCarthy's leadership was led by Donald Trump ally and Republican Matt Gaetz with the final vote tally coming to 216-210. It has been revealed that only eight Republicans voted against their own party member.
Gaetz triggered the motion to vacate on Monday, just months after McCarthy secured the position in a gruelling 15-round voting process. In a closed-door discussion on Tuesday, McCarthy commented, "If I counted how many times someone wanted to knock me out, I would have been gone a long time ago."
Despite the decision McCarthy still has the support of some of his fellow party members, with several Republicans emerging from the closed-door meeting affirming their allegiance, citing standing ovations during the discussions.
Why did the vote occur?
The catalyst for McCarthy's removal was his decision to cooperate with Democrats in passing a temporary funding extension to avert a government shutdown, a move that has sparked outrage among Gaetz and other far-right Republicans. Approximately 20 Republicans who are unhappy with McCarthy's leadership repeatedly blocked other legislation. McCarthy's actions also garnered criticism for the sluggish progress of spending legislation.
What happens next?
Republican Representative Patrick McHenry has been appointed as the temporary acting speaker to facilitate the election of a new speaker. Both the Republican and Democratic parties must now select candidates for the new Speaker of the House. However, it is expected that this may cause conflicts for the Republicans as a result of divisions within the party itself. Although McCarthy is eligible for re-election, he has already informed his colleagues that he will not be running again.
Under the US Constitution, the House speaker does not have to be a member of Congress, sparking speculation about potential candidates. Some Republicans have even floated the idea of former President Donald Trump taking the role, although he has expressed disinterest. The timing of the vote for a new speaker remains uncertain, although a vote is planned for 11th October.
McCarthy emphasised the need for a candidate who puts "the country first" when asked about his successor. The historic removal of Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker sets the stage for an uncertain and challenging period in US politics as both parties seek to fill this critical position.
