On Oct. 3, 2023, the Home of Representatives voted to take away Kevin McCarthy as speaker. The vote—initiated by a Republican and occurring below a Republican majority—marked the embarrassing fall of a determine who was as soon as touted as one of many celebration’s promising “Young Guns.”
McCarthy’s shot at main the Home got here after a disappointing 2022 election cycle for the GOP, regardless of securing a slender majority. Earlier than the election, many anticipated a “red wave” of votes for Republicans, however after the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade and eradicated the constitutional proper to abortion in June 2022, the wave grew to become a trickle.
It took 15 rounds of votes within the Home for McCarthy to safe the votes crucial for him to develop into speaker. In every spherical, Democrats held agency in assist of their chosen chief, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
The method to take away McCarthy was initiated by Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who’s finest identified for his alleged involvement in intercourse events and affiliation with a onetime affiliate convicted of intercourse trafficking. Gaetz’s movement to vacate the speakership succeeded with a vote of 216-210.
Gaetz was upset that below McCarthy, the Home had handed a decision funding the federal authorities that was finally signed by President Joe Biden. The invoice had bipartisan assist, with a majority of Republicans and Democrats backing it, however it was opposed by the celebration’s extra conservative factions.
Then got here chaos.
After McCarthy’s ouster, Republicans couldn’t determine who ought to lead them. A number of names had been floated as Republicans jockeyed for the place. Rep. Steve Scalise, the Home majority chief, joined the race. However his hopes had been shortly dashed after his previous attendance at a white supremacist convention was introduced again into the highlight.
Rep. Jim Jordan, an ardent Donald Trump defender and promoter of conspiracy theories, threw his hat into the ring—even growing his donations to GOP candidates and election teams—however then pulled out after assist did not materialize. Rep. Tom Emmer, the Home majority whip, additionally took up a bid however stop after Trump got here out in opposition to him, saying that Emmer “wasn’t MAGA.”
Finally, the celebration settled on Rep. Mike Johnson, who has held the place since final October. However below Johnson, the GOP has nonetheless been unable to get its act collectively.
The month after he took over, Republicans wanted Democratic assist to avert a authorities shutdown. In January, Republicans leaned on Democrats once more for his or her assist of a tax invoice. And in September, Republicans couldn’t avert a authorities shutdown on their very own after most of their caucus opposed a short-term authorities funding invoice. As soon as once more, Democrats rescued the bulk.
In the meantime, the slender Republican majority has continued to shrink. The celebration has seen over 20 congressional lawmakers announce their retirements forward of this yr’s elections, and much more embarrassingly, the Home voted to oust Republican George Santos following his indictment—a seat that was later gained by a Democrat.
Since his ouster and the third-shortest speakership in U.S. historical past, McCarthy has stored his hand in politics, showing on cable information to assault Vice President Kamala Harris and donating hundreds of thousands to Home candidates.
However voters seem poised to show the web page on the Republican majority. When requested which celebration they wish to see lead Congress following this yr’s elections, a plurality selected the Democrats, based on 538’s common of generic-ballot polling, which reveals Democrats main Republicans by over 2 share factors.
