For the first time in U.S. history, the House voted to remove a speaker Tuesday, ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy after a bloc of disaffected GOP colleagues joined with Democrats on a 216-210 vote.
The only previous vote to oust a speaker using a “motion to vacate” came in 1910, when Republican Speaker Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois easily survived. Despite the dubious milestone, McCarthy’s allies on Tuesday pledged to nominate him in a coming floor race for the gavel, the second since early January.
Republicans voting with Democrats to oust McCarthy were Matt Gaetz of Florida, who offered the motion to vacate the speaker’s office, along with Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eli Crane of Arizona, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Matt Rosendale of Montana.
