In a historic move, the House of Representatives is set to vote on whether Kevin McCarthy should remain House Speaker. The vote comes after Republican Representative Matt Gaetz introduced a motion to declare the office of Speaker vacant. McCarthy’s fellow Republicans are making efforts to table Gaetz’s motion and prevent any division within the party. However, Democratic leadership members are urging their caucus to vote in favor of the motion. If McCarthy is ousted, it would be an unprecedented event in American history.
The Speaker of the House is a crucial position, as they not only lead the chamber but also serve as the second in line for the presidency. The potential removal of McCarthy through a vote during a congressional term would set a precedent that could impact future speakers. Despite warnings from McCarthy’s allies, Democrats are not coming to his rescue. Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has urged Democrats to vote in favor of the motion to vacate, citing the Republicans’ unwillingness to break from MAGA extremism.
McCarthy, however, remains confident that he will retain his position. He expressed his confidence to reporters and stated that he does not personally believe he would need to rely on Democratic votes. Nevertheless, most Democrats are likely to vote against McCarthy, as they hold him responsible for nearly shutting down the government. If the vote to table Gaetz’s resolution succeeds, McCarthy will continue as Speaker. If it fails, a subsequent vote on the motion to vacate the chair would take place, potentially leading to McCarthy’s removal and the appointment of a new speaker.