House Democrats left their Tuesday morning closed-door meeting resolved to vote against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after Republican hardliner and vocal McCarthy foe Rep. Matt Gaetz, Fla., filed a motion to vacate against the speaker Monday night, The Messenger reports. "We're not saving Kevin McCarthy," Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., told the outlet. "There'll be a motion to table. A vote that was either present or yes would be saving Kevin McCarthy."
The caucus held an extended meeting just hours before the House is expected to vote on a motion to table Gaetz's motion, which he filed in hopes of ousting McCarthy from leadership this week over alleged broken promises. During the session, Democrats expressed their desire to present a unified front on the floor and their distrust of the California Republican. No members spoke in favor of coming to McCarthy's aid, according to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., and some even played videos of the speaker lying at press conferences or on TV while a few mentioned that past contentious Republican speakers like Paul Ryan resigned instead of forcing the chamber to endure more chaos.
