- It is the first time in history that representatives have chosen to remove their Speaker from office
The House has voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker.
The result came after a nail-biting, but lengthy, roll call that required every member to put their choice on the record.
Some 216 members- including eight Republicans – voted to oust the Californian congressman from the Speaker’s chair.
This is a huge victory for the rebellious faction of right-wing Republicans led by Matt Gaetz of Florida.
After some deliberation, the Democrats chose not to come to the Speaker’s rescue – voting to oust him along with eight Republican defectors.
No clear successor has emerged to replace him.
McCarthy struck a deal to narrowly avoid a government shutdown over the weekend, angering certain Republican factions, prompting Florida’s Matt Gaetz to file the formal motion on Monday night
