In an unprecedented move Tuesday afternoon, the United States House of Representatives voted to vacate the Speaker of the House held by Kevin McCarthy. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla) filed a “motion to vacate on Monday night to overthrow McCarthy’s position. The vote was 216 in favor of vacating the office and 210 to keep McCarthy in his job. All Democrats and eight Republicans voted “yes” to remove McCarthy as the Speaker of the House for the first time in history.
Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher (R) of the 8th District voted to have McCarthy retain his seat, while fellow Republicans Andy Biggs, Ken Buck, Tim Burchett, Eli Crane, Gaetz, Bob Good, Nancy Mace, and Matt Rosendale voted with Democrats to vacate the Speaker of the House.
The next steps are uncertain, with no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
Statement by Rep. Mike Gallagher regarding vote to expel McCarthy as Speaker of the House.
“From pulling fire alarms, to calling for executions, to deposing a Speaker after tanking his conservative border and fiscal reform bill, public officials seem to be breaking a lot of precedents lately. If Congress continues this precedent-shattering spiral, we will further empower an already over-empowered executive branch and thereby make the federal government less accountable to the people. For our narrow majority to be effective going forward, we must muster more discipline and teamwork. This means aggressive oversight, a return to regular order, and a reform of the entire budget and appropriations process,"
