Washington, D.C. – The United States House of Representatives voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the Republican leader on Tuesday, in a historic vote that reflected the deep divisions within the Republican Party.
The vote was 216-210, with eight Republicans joining all 208 Democrats in voting to remove McCarthy from his position.
The vote was the culmination of months of infighting within the Republican Party, which has been divided between McCarthy’s moderate wing and a more conservative wing led by former President Donald Trump. McCarthy’s critics accused him of being too willing to compromise with Democrats and of failing to stand up to Trump.
McCarthy had faced a growing number of calls to resign in recent weeks, after he initially defended Trump’s response to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and then reversed his position after the attack.
In a statement after the vote, McCarthy said that he would not seek to regain the speakership. He also said that he would continue to serve in the House of Representatives.
It is unclear who will succeed McCarthy as Republican leader. Several Republican lawmakers have expressed interest in the position, including Congressman Jim Jordan and Congressman Steve Scalise.
The vote to oust McCarthy is a sign of the deep divisions within the Republican Party. It is also a sign of the growing influence of Trump, who continues to hold a sway over many Republican voters.
The vote is also significant because it is the first time that the House of Representatives has voted to oust a speaker since 1899. It is also the first time that a speaker has been ousted by members of their own party.
The vote to oust McCarthy is likely to have a significant impact on the Republican Party and on American politics. It is unclear how the party will move forward without a clear leader. It is also unclear how the vote will affect the 2022 midterm elections.
What happens next?
The House of Representatives is now expected to hold a vote to elect a new Speaker. The two leading candidates are Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio.
If elected Speaker, Scalise would be the first Republican from Louisiana to lead the House of Representatives. Jordan is a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus and is a close ally of former President Trump.
The vote to remove McCarthy is a sign of the deep divisions within the Republican Party. The vote to elect a new Speaker is expected to be held in the next few days.
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