Who Will Succeed McCarthy? The Poisoned Chalice of House Speaker

Scarlett MLast Updated: October 4, 2023

Back in January, Kevin McCarthy made a deal to secure the role of House Speaker, granting any single member of Congress the authority to trigger a vote for his removal. On Tuesday, Republican Representative Matt Gaetz exercised that power, successfully ousting McCarthy with the assistance of Democrats. Now, many Republicans find themselves at a crossroads, pondering their next steps. While the majority of Republicans voted to retain McCarthy in his position, a handful of rebels were enough to plunge the chamber into disarray.

For months, McCarthy had strived to maintain unity within his party’s conservative wing. He had acquiesced to launching an impeachment investigation into President Joe Biden, distanced himself from a prior spending agreement with Democrats to raise the debt limit, and allowed conservatives to attach right-wing provisions to spending bills and other legislative matters. However, all these efforts proved futile. When the Speaker had to rely on Democratic backing to temporarily fund the government over the weekend, the course of events was set in motion.

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Mr. McCarthy could have attempted to regain his position by persuading or pressuring the Republicans who voted against him this week, much like he did back in January. However, his options now appear limited, and on Tuesday evening, he hinted that he would not seek re-election.

The speakership he had aspired to throughout his political career has turned into a difficult and challenging role. After the vote to remove him, he appeared almost relieved as fellow Republicans approached to offer handshakes and hugs.

Regardless of which Republican ultimately replaces him, the divisions within the party will persist. The challenges of effectively managing the chamber remain the same.

This historic moment, as the first Speaker removed by a House vote, represents the culmination of a long-standing internal struggle within the Republican party. This rift between the party’s political establishment and its passionate base has been brewing since at least the Tea Party movement of 2010.

It’s a battle between practicality and ideological purity, between reforming the system and working within its confines.

Back in January, Mr. McCarthy narrowly secured the Speaker’s gavel, as a few Republican rebels eventually sided with the rest of the party to back the California congressman. However, it was these very Republican holdouts who played a pivotal role in dethroning the Speaker on Tuesday.

While Mr. Gaetz had some allies who supported his “motion to vacate the chair,” it was predominantly a one-man effort. As Mr. McCarthy’s Republican defenders took turns speaking during an hour of debate before the final vote, Mr. Gaetz, positioned on the Democratic side of the chamber but addressing his fellow Republicans, dominated most of the time as he made his case against the Speaker.

What became evident is that both factions within the divided Republican House believe that Washington is in a state of disrepair. For Mr. Gaetz, the primary source of blame lies in the way federal spending is authorized. He passionately criticized the process in which Congress approves substantial spending bills for various federal government components, often through closed-door negotiations, and then votes on them as a single comprehensive package.

He also condemned Mr. McCarthy for making concessions to Democrats, who currently control the Senate and the White House, during budget and debt-limit negotiations. He argued that if the Republican party didn’t take a more assertive stance, nothing in Washington would ever change.

On the flip side, defenders of the Speaker argued that compromise is an integral part of the political process, asserting that Mr. McCarthy had effectively advanced the conservative agenda.

Congressman Kelly Armstrong from North Dakota placed direct blame on politicians like Mr. Gaetz, accusing them of prioritizing grandstanding and fundraising over the responsibilities of governance. He remarked, “The incentive structure in this town is completely broken. We have reached a point where seeking clicks, TV appearances, and a fleeting taste of celebrity status drive decision-making and encourage immature behavior.”

As it stands, the House finds itself in disarray – lacking a Speaker and lacking a clear path forward to appoint one. The removal proceedings concluded on Tuesday afternoon with a resounding gavel strike, leaving Republicans appearing stunned as they retreated behind closed doors to strategize their next steps. Meanwhile, Democrats appeared lighthearted and engaged in conversation, seemingly believing that this upheaval would work to their political advantage.

These are uncharted waters, though, and as the clock ticks toward a potential government shutdown in mid-November, the situation could become increasingly turbulent.