McCarthy out as speaker
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Speaker McCarthy ousted in historic House vote, as scramble begins for a Republican leader
Kevin McCarthy was ousted as the Speaker of the House. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida forced the vote on the “motion to vacate.”
AP News (apnews.com)
McCarthy becomes the first speaker ever to be ousted from the job in a House vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordinary showdown — a first in U.S. history, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives and throwing the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.
It’s the end of the political line for McCarthy, who has said repeatedly that he never gives up, but found himself with almost no options remaining. Neither the right-flank Republicans who engineered his ouster nor the Democrats who piled on seem open to negotiating.
McCarthy told lawmakers in the evening he would not run again for speaker, putting the gavel up for grabs. Next steps are highly uncertain as there is no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority. Action is halted in the House until next week, when Republicans try to elect a new speaker.
