House removes McCarthy as Speaker in historic vote

WASHINGTON — Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the speakership on Tuesday after a vote in the House of Representatives. This move has left the chamber with no leader.

This vote is the first of its kind in U.S. history and has left the House in chaos. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in removing McCarthy from the position in the 216-210 vote.

The rebellion to remove him was led by fellow Republican and Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz wanted the speaker removed after McCarthy relied on Democratic votes to pass a short-term spending deal to prevent a government shutdown on Saturday.

“We need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy,” Gaetz said. “Look, the one thing everybody has in common is that nobody trusts Kevin McCarthy.”

The Speaker of the House plays a vital role in the U.S. government, as this person is second in line for the presidency.

The House of Representatives was also set to address many issues in the coming weeks, which they now can’t. These issues include how to proceed with President Joe Biden’s impeachment inquiry and deciding on aid to Ukraine.

The House is now on a week-long recess and members will be discussing who to back in a vote for a new speaker during this time. The vote has been scheduled for Oct. 11, but it could take much longer to find someone who can get enough votes from the House.

Isabelle Charboneau is a third-year majoring in digital/print journalism. To contact her, email ijc5186@psu.edu.