House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) finds himself in a precarious position as the leader of the House of Representatives, facing the imminent threat of removal within his own party. The situation has escalated with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filing a motion to vacate the chair, putting McCarthy in “immediate danger” of being ousted.
Despite McCarthy’s recent call with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), it appears that Jeffries’ caucus is unwilling to come to McCarthy’s aid. This means McCarthy can only afford to lose five members of his own caucus to avoid removal.
A report from Punchbowl highlights the gravity of McCarthy’s predicament, stating that “he has only two days to schedule a vote on Gaetz’s resolution.” The vote could potentially take place as early as noon today.
McCarthy faces a dilemma as he is unlikely to secure victory with Republican votes alone, and Democrats are hesitant to intervene in a Republican internal conflict.
The current situation leaves McCarthy’s future as House Speaker uncertain, and it remains unclear who might replace him in the event of his removal. Earlier this year, Gaetz advocated for former President Donald Trump as a potential replacement, despite Trump facing legal challenges with indictments in four jurisdictions on 91 felony counts.
