Longtime House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has announced that he will not seek re-election as House Speaker. This comes after he was ousted following a motion to vacate the chair on Tuesday evening. McCarthy initially revealed his decision during a private GOP meeting, as reported by multiple congressional reporters and House members. He later confirmed this news himself during a press conference.
The motion to remove McCarthy from the position was brought to the floor by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on Monday evening, following weeks of speculation and dissatisfaction among some conservative allies regarding McCarthy’s budget negotiations with Democrats. These critics also accused him of breaking promises made after the lengthy speaker vote held in January.
Although McCarthy faced opposition from 20 GOP representatives on the first ballot back in January, only eight supported the motion to vacate the chair on Tuesday. McCarthy could only afford five detractors, ultimately leading to his ousting when Democrats voted as a conference.
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After McCarthy’s removal, numerous congressional reporters from respected outlets like the Washington Post, Politico, and ABC confirmed that he would not seek another term as speaker.
During a subsequent press conference, McCarthy expressed his gratitude to the American people for the opportunity to serve as House Speaker and shared his unlikely journey into politics. He reflected on his tenure, saying, “One of the greatest honors, I loved every minute.”
McCarthy defended his efforts to negotiate and find compromise, stating, “I was raised to solve problems, not create them.” He left the speakership with a sense of pride, accomplishment, and optimism.
Addressing his Republican detractors, McCarthy noted the small percentage of the Republican conference that, when combined with Democrats, had the power to determine the Republican speaker. He expressed his belief that the motion to vacate was not a good rule for the institution.
In a decisive statement, McCarthy confirmed, “I will not run for speaker again; I’ll have the conference pick somebody else.”
He concluded his statement by quoting Lou Gehrig’s famous “luckiest man” speech, extending his well-wishes to the conference, and thanking the American people for the opportunity to serve.
This significant development in House leadership has left many wondering who will succeed Kevin McCarthy as the next House Speaker. The process of selecting a new speaker will undoubtedly be closely watched in the days to come.
Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.
