House Republicans gathered to discuss their options for electing a new House speaker after the unprecedented vote to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the position. They have planned a speaker’s candidate forum on Oct. 10, followed by an election in the House on Oct. 11.
During the GOP conference on Oct. 3, McCarthy announced that he would not seek reelection as speaker.
After the meeting, he expressed his thoughts on X, stating, “I will not seek to run again for Speaker of the House. I may have lost a vote today, but I fought for what I believe in—and I believe in America. It has been an honor to serve.”
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) informed members that he would not collaborate with Democrats in selecting a speaker, according to Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), resulting in the divided GOP conference having to once again battle it out for leadership.
McCarthy had previously been elected as speaker in January after a challenging four-day, 15-round contest.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) stated to reporters after the meeting, “They’re throwing out some good ideas” regarding the next speaker, although he and other members did not comment on potential candidates.
Following the vote to remove the speaker, some Republicans expressed frustration towards their colleagues who voted against McCarthy.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) told reporters, “We’re back at January 2 right now, and everything else is just hooey,” implying that the claims made by the eight Republicans who voted against McCarthy, such as increasing border security or cutting spending, were rendered meaningless due to the chaotic battle for the speakership.
According to Mr. Van Orden, no business can be conducted on the House floor until a new speaker is elected.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) expressed her disappointment in how McCarthy was treated by members of his own caucus and the impact it has on their ability to govern.
She told reporters, “It’s devastating for our conference. I mean, 98 percent of the conference was with Speaker McCarthy. He’s done a good job. He did not deserve this. It’s a complete injustice.”
She added, “Matt Gaetz undermined the entire conference. He undermined the entire institution. And now we can’t do the job that we were elected to do, for the time being, because we don’t have a speaker of the House.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) speaks during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 19, 2021. (Susan Walsh/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told reporters, ”There’s some anger there. We’ll see tomorrow about some sort of path forward… We’ve got to give it a day until things have cooled down.”
Later that evening, McCarthy expressed no bitterness in his remarks to the press. He stated, “I’m a Republican. I win by Republicans, and I lose by Republicans,” indicating his acceptance of the vote’s outcome.
In Search of a Plan
Ahead of the evening conference, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chairman of the House Rules Committee and a McCarthy supporter, stated that there was no clear plan for moving forward.
“Nobody knows what’s going to happen. The people that voted to vacate have no plan,” Cole said. “It’s just chaos at this point.”
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) leaves the office of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 27, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Indeed, those advocating for McCarthy’s removal relied on philosophical arguments but failed to present a practical pathway for improvement.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) told reporters, ”I am looking for a speaker who will tell the truth to the American people, who will be honest and trustworthy with Congress—with both parties.” She did not mention any specific candidate for the position.
Mr. Gaetz stated before the vote, “We need a speaker, ideally somebody who doesn’t want to be speaker and hasn’t pursued that at all costs for his entire adult life, who will take the moment and do everything possible to fight for the country.”
Republicans are now faced with the challenge of resolving their leadership dilemma while also completing the appropriations process within the 45-day timeframe provided by the continuing resolution passed on Sept. 30.
Rapid Succession of Events
Mr. Gaetz had been hinting at the possibility of a motion to remove the speaker for several weeks and followed through on the threat on Oct. 2.
McCarthy responded swiftly by scheduling the motion’s consideration for the following afternoon.
(Left) Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) departs from the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Sept. 29, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images), (Right) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 19, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
During an hour-long debate, Gaetz accused McCarthy of failing to fulfill promises to reform the House’s legislative process, address the growing national debt, and collaborate with Democrats on bills that most Republicans opposed.
Ironically, the motion to remove McCarthy succeeded because 208 Democrats joined the eight Republicans who voted against the speaker.
The vast majority of the Republican conference, consisting of 210 members, opposed the effort and praised McCarthy’s effective leadership, which they believed had achieved conservative victories despite strong opposition from the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House.
With a 221 to 212-seat majority, Republicans will need near unanimity in their choice for speaker, as at least a few of the eight members who voted against McCarthy’s removal will need to approve the new speaker.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) placed the House in recess until Oct. 10.
Emel Akan, Joseph Lord, and Ryusuke Abe contributed to this report.
How will the divided GOP conference select a new House speaker after the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy?
Lected a new House speaker after the unprecedented vote to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the position. They have planned a speaker’s candidate forum on Oct. 10, followed by an election in the House on Oct. 11.
During the GOP conference on Oct. 3, McCarthy announced that he would not seek reelection as speaker.
After the meeting, he expressed his thoughts on his decision, stating, “I will not seek to run again for Speaker of the House. I may have lost a vote today, but I fought for what I believe in—and I believe in America. It has been an honor to serve.”
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) informed members that he would not collaborate with Democrats in selecting a speaker, according to Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), resulting in the divided GOP conference having to once again battle it out for leadership.
McCarthy had previously been elected as speaker in January after a challenging four-day, 15-round contest.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) stated to reporters after the meeting, “They’re throwing out some good ideas” regarding the next speaker, although he and other members did not comment on potential candidates.
Following the vote to remove the speaker, some Republicans expressed frustration towards their colleagues who voted against McCarthy.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) told reporters, “We’re back at January 2 right now, and everything feels uncertain. But I trust that our party will come together and find a strong candidate to lead us.”
The upcoming speaker’s candidate forum on Oct. 10 will provide an opportunity for Republican representatives to present their vision and qualifications for the speaker position. It will be followed by an election in the House on Oct. 11, where members will cast their votes for the new speaker.
The removal of Rep. McCarthy as speaker marks a significant shakeup in the House leadership. As Republicans gather to discuss their options and elect a new speaker, the party’s unity and ability to rally behind a strong leader will be crucial in navigating the challenges facing the nation and advancing their policy agenda.
The House speaker holds a position of great responsibility and influence, serving as the leader of the majority party and playing a key role in shaping legislative priorities and guiding the House’s agenda. As Republicans deliberate and consider potential candidates, they will need to assess not only their leadership abilities but also their ability to unite factions within the party and effectively work with members from both sides of the aisle.
The outcome of the election for the new House speaker will have far-reaching implications for the Republican Party and its ability to advance its policy objectives. It will also play a significant role in shaping the dynamics and workings of the House of Representatives in the coming years.
As the forum and election draw near, all eyes will be on the House Republicans as they make this critical decision. The choice of the new speaker will set the tone for the party’s future and have a lasting impact on the legislative agenda and political landscape. It is a moment of great importance and significance, not only for the Republicans but for the entire nation.
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