Eight Republicans Break Ranks to Oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House

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Rep. Kevin McCarthy had the backing of 208 members within his conference to retain his position as Speaker of the House. However, a group of eight Republicans from his own party broke ranks and joined Democrats in an unprecedented move to remove him from his role.

This small faction of Republicans aligned with Democrats to create a historic moment, marking McCarthy as the first Speaker in American history to be ousted by a vote from his peers.

The majority of these eight dissenters have been long-standing critics of McCarthy. They expressed dissatisfaction with McCarthy’s agreement with President Joe Biden aimed at averting a federal default. They also opposed the recent legislation passed by Congress to maintain current funding levels for the federal government through mid-November.

While most of these eight are fiscal conservatives who initially opposed McCarthy’s candidacy for Speaker, McCarthy countered by saying that he doesn’t view these individuals as true conservatives.

“They can’t claim to be conservative just because they’re discontented and unruly,” McCarthy said. “The party I belong to—the Reagan party—held the belief that one could govern conservatively if one adhered to their principles. These individuals neither qualify as conservatives nor have the right to claim the title.”

Though each lawmaker had unique grievances, the group generally expressed frustration with McCarthy’s legislative priorities in the House, particularly concerning spending bills. Some also accused him of lacking trustworthiness and failing to honor agreements made when he first became Speaker—claims McCarthy vehemently denied when announcing he would not run for the position again.

Profiles of the Eight Republicans Who Voted Against McCarthy

REP. ANDY BIGGS

Biggs is in his fourth term, representing a predominantly Republican district in Arizona. He previously chaired the staunchly conservative House Freedom Caucus and was a contender for the Speaker position. A staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, Biggs criticized the delay in passing annual funding bills, which, according to him, are vital for fiscal responsibility.

REP. KEN BUCK

In his fifth term, Buck represents a Colorado district. He has a reputation for being a fiscal conservative who occasionally challenges party leadership. Buck was critical of McCarthy’s decision to launch an impeachment inquiry against Biden and also took issue with McCarthy’s approach to government spending.

REP. TIM BURCHETT

Burchett, representing a district in eastern Tennessee, is in his third term in the House. He criticized the House’s lack of action in August, given the urgent need to pass spending bills before the fiscal year’s end.

REP. ELI CRANE

A representative of an Arizona district, Crane is a former Navy SEAL with 13 years of military service. He opposed McCarthy’s bid for Speaker from the outset and recently criticized the leadership’s lack of commitment to significant legislative changes.

REP. MATT GAETZ

Representing a Florida district in his fourth term, Gaetz is a close ally of Trump. He led the charge against McCarthy on the House floor and faced backlash from party members for causing discord.

REP. BOB GOOD

Good won his seat in 2020, representing a Virginia district. While initially supporting McCarthy for Speaker, he later expressed disappointment in the compromise made to avert a government shutdown.

REP. NANCY MACE

In her second term, Mace represents a South Carolina district. She emphasized that her vote against McCarthy was not ideologically driven but centered on issues of trust and accountability.

REP. MATT ROSENDALE

Representing a Montana district, Rosendale is in his second term. A fiscal conservative, he opposed U.S. support for Ukraine and emphasized the need for strong leadership to tackle the country’s challenges.

Each of these lawmakers has made it clear that they were motivated by a range of concerns, but collectively they have changed the course of history by voting to remove McCarthy from his role as Speaker of the House.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ousting Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House

More about Ousting Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House

• Background on Kevin McCarthy’s Tenure as Speaker
• Profile of Dissenting Republicans
• Historical Overview of Speaker of the House Removals
• Fiscal Concerns in U.S. Legislation
• Congressional Voting Records on Priority Legislation
• Analysis: Rifts within the Republican Party
• Guide to the Legislative Process in the House of Representatives
• Official Statement from Kevin McCarthy on His Ouster
• Summary of Political Repercussions for the GOP