House Ousts McCarthy As Speaker in Historic Vote

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) time as speaker has come to an end.

On Tuesday, House members voted 216-210 to oust McCarthy.

CNN’s Manu Raju noted Tuesday’s vote was the first time in 113 years the House voted to oust a speaker, and the first time in U.S. history the vote succeeded.

Meanwhile, Fox News’ Chad Pergram noted lawmakers will have to vote for a new speaker. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he explained, “The House can do nothing else on the floor without a Speaker. No bills. No nothing. The body is paralyzed on the floor until it elects a Speaker.”

Earlier this week, Rep. 👤Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced his plan to file a motion to vacate the chair and end McCarthy’s speakership after he advanced a spending bill that relied on Democratic votes to pass.

And on Monday night, the Florida congressman made good on his threat.

Gaetz previously predicted McCarthy would only hold onto the speaker’s gavel if Democrats agreed to provide votes to offset Republican defections.

While speaking to reporters hours before the House was expected to vote on a motion to vacate on Tuesday, McCarthy was asked, “Are you ruling out any sort of power-sharing agreement with Democrats?”

“That doesn’t work,” the top Republican responded.

He added, “I know that our government’s designed to have compromise, but look, we’re in the majority, you don’t surrender.”

It also became clear House Democrats were not inclined to help the speaker keep his job.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said House Democratic leadership would vote to oust McCarthy.

Despite the prospect of his time as speaker coming to an end, McCarthy defended his actions, saying, “Keeping the government open and paying our troops was the right decision. I stand by that decision. And at the end of the day, if I have to lose my job over it, so be it.”