Speaker McCarthy's job at risk after House votes to move ahead with hard-right effort to oust him
McCarthy's ability to remain in leadership was thrown into serious risk on Tuesday after the House voted to move ahead with an effort by hard-right Republican critics to oust him. The narrow outcome forced by McCarthy's chief rival, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, brought together a handful of conservative Republican critics of the speaker and many Democrats who say he is unworthy of leadership.
The vote was 208-218 not to table the motion, with 11 Republicans allowing it to advance.
By refusing to set aside the motion, the House now opens an extraordinary floor debate ahead of the next round of voting.
It's a stunning moment for the embattled McCarthy that serves as the most severe challenge yet, a potential punishment sparked by his weekend decision to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open rather than risk a shutdown.
McCarthy, of California, insists he will not cut a deal with Democrats to remain in power. Gaetz rose to offer his motion, as several hard-right Republicans had already announced they were ready to oppose McCarthy, many of them who fought in January during his prolonged battle to gain the gavel.
«It's a sad day,» said Republican Rep.
Tom Cole of Oklahoma, as debate got underway, urging his colleagues not to plunge the House Republican majority «into chaos.»
But Gaetz shot back during the debate: «Chaos is Speaker McCarthy.»
The Republican McCarthy's fate is deeply uncertain as he faces what's known as a «motion to vacate» from Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a strident critic allied with Donald Trump. It would take the support of only a handful of Republicans from his slim majority to remove McCarthy as speaker if Democrats vote in favor alongside the conservative rebels.
