Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has been ousted from his position in a right-wing revolt.
This marks the first time in history that a Speaker has lost a vote of no confidence in the House.
The final vote count was 216-210, resulting in McCarthy’s removal as the leader of the Republican majority in the lower chamber of Congress.
This revolt occurred after McCarthy struck a deal with Senate Democrats to fund government agencies, which was met with resistance from hardliners in his party.
McCarthy’s ousting has left the Republican Party without a clear successor to oversee the House Republican majority.
The US Congress now has just over 40 days to reach an agreement to avoid a potential government shutdown.
Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, played a key role in McCarthy’s removal by filing a motion to vacate on Monday night.
Gaetz accused McCarthy of making a secret deal with the White House regarding funding for Ukraine during negotiations to prevent a government shutdown. McCarthy denied these allegations.
After losing his position, McCarthy stated at a private meeting with fellow Republicans that he had no plans to run for Speaker again.
He also criticized Gaetz, accusing him of seeking attention and making the issue personal.
McCarthy said, “You know it was personal; it had nothing to do with spending.” He also expressed disapproval of fundraising emails sent by Gaetz during the infighting, deeming them unfit for a member of Congress.
The hardliners within the Republican Party who orchestrated McCarthy’s ousting were described by him as “not conservatives.”
McCarthy became Speaker in January after a challenging 15 rounds of voting in the chamber, during which Gaetz and other right-wing Republicans refused to support him.
In an attempt to appease these hardliners, McCarthy had agreed to a procedure that allowed a single member to propose his removal, which Gaetz eventually did.
Despite McCarthy’s support from 210 Republicans, eight members of his party voted against him in the vote, joining all Democratic members.The departure of McCarthy has thrown the House Republican conference into chaos, with no clear plan for a successor.
Interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican, has assumed temporary leadership, but it is unclear if he will have full powers or merely administrative authority. A vote for a new Speaker is scheduled for October 11.
Names mentioned as potential replacements for McCarthy include Louisiana Republican Steve Scalise and Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer, although neither has expressed interest in the role.
The White House expressed hope for a swift election of a new Speaker, emphasizing that the challenges facing the nation cannot wait.
