Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reportedly won’t seek re-election for the position after a vote to ‘vacate the chair’ was successful on Tuesday afternoon.
“I will not run for Speaker again. I will have the conference pick somebody else,” he said.
The Washington Post earlier reported that McCarthy would not be seeking re-election.
“Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), after being removed as House speaker Tuesday, told fellow Republican lawmakers that he won’t seek the position again, according to two sources familiar with his plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations,” the report stated. “The vote to remove him was the first such removal in congressional history. McCarthy’s removal was sought by hard-right members of his own party. Democrats did not provide votes that would have been needed to save him. The move puts the House in uncharted territory as it searches for a leader.”
In a historic moment for American politics, the House of Representatives, in a 216-210 vote on Tuesday, successfully initiated the process to remove the Speaker from office. This landmark decision followed the Republicans’ inability to thwart the motion, despite their best efforts.
In an unexpected turn of events, every Democrat in attendance united with eight Republicans to back the motion to vacate. The vote was triggered by fellow Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida.
