Kevin McCarthy ousts US House Speaker in dramatic vote

WASHINGTON (AP) – Speaker kevin mccarthy In an unusual showdown, the first in U.S. history, he was voted to resign on Tuesday. The 216-210 vote, pushed by some far-right conservatives, threw the House and Republican leadership into confusion.

mccarthyRep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, his biggest rival, has joined more than a few conservative Republicans who criticize him and many Democrats who say he is unworthy of leadership. He submitted a motion to resign.

The next steps are unclear, but there is no clear successor to lead the House Republican majority.

This is the latest news. Previous articles from the Associated Press are below.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Speaker kevin mccarthyThe gavel was in serious jeopardy Tuesday after the House voted to move forward with a historic effort by far-right critics to oust the embattled Republican leader from office. .

A dramatic showdown forced by mccarthyHis biggest rival, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, has brought together several conservative Republicans who criticize him and many Democrats who say he is unworthy of leadership.

The vote was taken in a dramatic roll call.Can be removed with a simple majority mccarthy From the chairman’s room.He has the support of most Republicans, but a small number of conservatives could dominate. mccarthyIf Democrats don’t step in to provide aid, the majority will be slim.

It’s a great moment for a seasoned player. mccarthy This is his toughest challenge yet, a possible punishment fueled by growing discontent, but he is willing to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open rather than risk a federal government shutdown. It was caused by a weekend decision to do so.

In an early vote, 11 Republicans voted against the motion, 218 to 208, allowing it to pass.

The House then began an unprecedented floor debate, the first of its kind in modern times, before the next possible vote on a motion to vacate the Speaker, something that has never happened in Congress in a century. was.

mccarthyThe California resident insists he has no intention of cutting a deal with Democrats to stay in power and that he can’t rely on their help even if he asks.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues that he wants to work with Republicans but is reluctant to provide the votes needed for relief. mccarthy.

“It is now up to Republicans to end the House Republican civil war,” Jeffries said, announcing that Democratic leadership would vote in favor of the motion to remove the Speaker.

As the House fell silent, Donald Trump’s ally Gaetz rose to introduce the motion. Gaetz is the leader of the far-right Republican Party, which fought against Republicans in January. mccarthy In a long battle to get the gavel.

“It’s a sad day,” Oklahoma Republican Rep. Tom Cole said as the debate began, pleading with his colleagues not to throw the House Republican majority into “chaos.”

But Gates fired back during the debate, saying, “Chaos is the chair.” mccarthy”

mccarthyThe speaker’s fate is very uncertain as the heated debate unfolds, and many of the complaints against the speaker center on his veracity and keeping promises he has made since January to win the gavel. It revolved around ability.

However, the long line mccarthy Supporters including Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a founding leader of the conservative Freedom Caucus, backed him, saying, “I think he kept his word.” And Republican Rep. Garrett Graves of Louisiana, waving his cell phone, said it was “disgusting” that his far-right colleagues were raising money for the movement with text messages asking for donations. Some did.

Removal would likely require the support of just a handful of Republicans in the slim majority. mccarthy If the Democratic Party votes in favor along with conservative opposition groups, it will become chairman.

Ahead of the historic afternoon vote, Republicans and Democrats met behind closed doors at the Capitol.

In a closed room, mccarthy He told the Republicans: “Let’s get on with it.”

“If I had counted the number of times someone tried to knock me out, I would have left a long time ago.” mccarthy He spoke at the Diet Building after a morning rally.

mccarthy He insisted he had not asked Democratic leaders across the aisle from Jeffries to help him vote to continue, and that they had not asked for anything in return.

During an hour-long meeting in the basement of the Capitol, mccarthy He cited the last Republican chairman, Joseph Cannon. More than 100 years ago, he confronted his critics head-on by calling out their bluffs and setting up a vote for his own resignation. Cannon survived the removal attempt, but it was the first time the House had actually voted to consider removing the speaker. A more recent threat in 2015 did not result in a vote.

mccarthy He received three standing ovations during the closed session, according to a Republican who attended the meeting and agreed to discuss the matter on condition of anonymity. The first time was when he went to the microphone to speak, the second time was while he was speaking, and the last time was when he finished speaking.

At one point, supporters raised their hands. mccarthy And it was “overwhelming,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R.S., a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

Mr. Gates was also in attendance, but did not speak on the floor.

Across the street from the Capitol, Democratic lawmakers lined up for a lengthy debate, united around one thing in common: mccarthy Several members of Congress who were present said they could not believe it.

“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say there’s not a lot of goodwill in that room.” kevin mccarthy” said Representative Richard Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts.

“At the end of the day, this country needs a speaker it can trust,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “We don’t trust him. Their members don’t trust him. And it takes a certain amount of trust to be a speaker.”

Firing him would throw House Republicans into turmoil as they try to find new leadership.It took mccarthy He himself won the gavel with support from his colleagues after voting 15 times over several days in January. He has no clear Republican successor.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner to challenge Biden in the 2024 presidential election, also expressed dissatisfaction with the chaos. “Why are Republicans always fighting within their own party?” he asked on social media.

1 key mccarthy Her ally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), took to social media to appeal for support for “our speaker” and an end to the chaos that has roiled the Republican majority.

Republicans are outraged by it. mccarthy The government relied on a Democratic vote on Saturday to approve interim measures to keep the government in power until November 17. Some would have wanted a government shutdown as they fought for deep spending cuts.

But Democrats are also outraged. mccarthy For withdrawing from the debt deal struck with Biden earlier this year that had already set federal spending levels, emboldening the right to push for deep spending cuts.

Associated Press reporter kevin Freking, Stephen Groves and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.