Democrats indicate they won’t support McCarthy before crucial vote.
After nearly nine months, the tenure of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House speaker may be coming to an end as Democrats have indicated they will not come to his rescue.
It will only take five Republicans to join all Democrats in stripping Mr. McCarthy of the gavel, which he won in January after 15 rounds of voting. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced the motion to vacate the chair.
If successful, this would mark the first time a speaker has been removed through a motion to vacate. Former Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) resigned as speaker and from Congress in 2015 before such a motion could be brought. The last vote on a motion to vacate was in 1910, which was unsuccessful.
House Minority Leader Urges Democrats to Remove McCarthy
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told his members during their weekly conference to vote against tabling the motion to vacate and to support the motion itself, according to Punchbowl News.
“We face a serious, solemn, and critical moment. The upcoming vote on the Motion to Vacate the Chair is not about any individual. Our duty as Members of Congress is tied to the Constitution, the principle of good governance, and the people we are honored to serve. Nothing more, and nothing less,” stated Mr. Jeffries.
“In that regard, House Democrats are still willing to find common ground and move forward on a path of progress,” he continued.
“Unfortunately, our extreme Republican colleagues have shown no willingness to do the same. It is now up to GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War.
Democrats Stand Against McCarthy
Several House Democrats have already declared their refusal to support Mr. McCarthy.
“Given the lack of significant benefits for Maine’s Second District, I see no reason to vote for him,” stated Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine).
“I can’t vote for McCarthy,” said Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), according to Axios’ Andrew Solender. “His values, his whole life has been about getting the brass ring. Nothing about the people, nothing about the institution.”
“You are only as good as your word—and time and again, Speaker McCarthy has proven that he is not a man of his word. He is simply not trustworthy,” said Rep. Annie Custer (D-N.H.), chair of the moderate New Democrat Coalition.
“While Republicans have lost their way, Democrats stand united in our purpose and our caucus,” she continued. “Leader Jeffries continues to be the steady, forward-looking voice we need to lead our country forward. New Dems are proud to stand with our Leader and our Caucus to deliver progress for the American people, not chaos.”
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) told The Epoch Times that House Democrats will follow Mr. Jeffries’ lead.
“Our vote must be for moving this country forward, ensuring reasonable appropriations that do not cut $800 million from programs benefiting women and children,” she added.
“And we will demonstrate to Russia and others that we are committed to standing by Ukraine because Ukraine is fighting for democracy. We will not abandon Ukraine,” Ms. Jackson Lee emphasized. “So we must prioritize these issues and see what the debate brings on the floor.”
During Mr. McCarthy’s time as speaker, the House passed legislation on the debt ceiling, border security, American energy, and new IRS agents. However, except for the debt ceiling bill, these bills have been unsuccessful in the Senate and have no chance of becoming law.
On Oct. 2, Mr. Gaetz filed the motion to vacate. In response, Mr. McCarthy posted on X, “Bring it on.”
January Agreement
As part of an agreement to secure the gavel, Mr. McCarthy lowered the threshold for bringing forth a motion to vacate, allowing a single member to do so.
Mr. Gaetz, who has been in Congress since 2017, stated on Oct. 1—one day after Congress avoided a government shutdown—that the 45-day continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government was the catalyst for his announcement.
“Speaker McCarthy made an agreement with House conservatives in January,” the Florida lawmaker told CNN.
“And since then, he has repeatedly and brazenly violated that agreement. This agreement he made with Democrats to bypass many of the spending restrictions we had put in place is the final straw.”
Mr. Gaetz also alleged, “Overnight I learned that Kevin McCarthy had a secret deal with Democrats on Ukraine.
“So while he was urging Republicans to vote for a continuing resolution without Ukraine funding, claiming that we would pressure the Senate on Ukraine, he was secretly making a deal.”
Mr. McCarthy denied having a side deal with the White House.
In his speech on the House floor on Oct. 2, where he criticized excessive spending, Mr. Gaetz condemned what he called a “yellow brick road paved by Speaker McCarthy.”
During his appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Mr. Gaetz announced his intention.
“I do intend to file a motion to vacate against Speaker McCarthy this week,” he said. “I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid. I think we need new leadership that can be trusted.”
Mr. Gaetz cited Mr. McCarthy’s inconsistency on issues and claimed that he failed to keep his promises.
“Look, the one thing everyone agrees on is that nobody trusts Kevin McCarthy. He lied to Biden. He lied to House conservatives. He had appropriators working with a different number altogether,” he stated.
On CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Mr. McCarthy responded to Mr. Gaetz: Game on.
Mr. McCarthy stated that Mr. Gaetz’s desire to take the gavel from him is “nothing new” and that he has been trying to do so since Mr. McCarthy ran for speaker in January, eventually winning after 15 rounds of voting and making numerous concessions to the hardline Freedom Caucus, including lowering the threshold for bringing forth a motion to vacate.
“He’s more interested in getting TV interviews than accomplishing anything. He wanted to push us into a shutdown, even threatening his own district where many military personnel would not be paid, all because he wants to pursue this motion,” Mr. McCarthy remarked.
It remains to be seen who will succeed Mr. McCarthy if the motion passes. A speaker pro tempore will be appointed until a permanent speaker is chosen.
Since the House has passed a rules package, business, including committee hearings, can proceed as usual. Potential permanent replacements for Mr. McCarthy include House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).
Mr. Scalise is currently battling cancer. All of them have expressed support for Mr. McCarthy to retain the gavel.
Is Jeffries married?
Kennisandra Jeffries Publican colleagues have chosen to put loyalty to former President Trump over loyalty to the Constitution and to the American people,” said Rep. Jeffries. “We cannot allow that to stand. This vote is about holding Mr. McCarthy accountable for his failure to uphold the principles and responsibilities of the speaker’s office.”
The motion to vacate comes as tensions within the Republican Party continue to rise. Many Republicans are frustrated with McCarthy’s leadership, which they view as ineffective and lacking in principles. They believe that his focus on appeasing Trump and the far-right faction of the party has led to a loss of focus on policy and the needs of the American people.
This sentiment was echoed by Rep. Gaetz, who said, “The American people deserve a House Speaker who will fight for them, who will put their needs first, and who will uphold the integrity of the office. Kevin McCarthy has proven time and time again that he is not up to the task.”
If the motion to vacate is successful, it will trigger a vote to elect a new speaker. While Rep. Gaetz has not announced his intentions to run for the position, there is speculation that he may throw his hat in the ring. Other potential candidates include Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and Steve Scalise (R-La.).
Regardless of the outcome, the motion to vacate is a significant milestone in the current political landscape. It demonstrates a growing discontent within the Republican Party and a willingness to hold leaders accountable for their actions. It also highlights the shifting dynamics within Congress as the Democrats continue to hold a slim majority and the Republican Party grapples with its identity post-Trump.
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