House Democratic leadership urged lawmakers on Tuesday to vote to boot Kevin McCarthy from the speakership.
“House Democratic leadership will vote yes on the pending Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair,” wrote House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a letter to Democratic colleagues. A notice from the whip’s office, sent moments later, urged lawmakers to vote against a procedural motion that would block the so-called motion to vacate and then vote for for the motion to remove McCarthy.
Party leaders have also been scrambling to lock down lawmaker attendance Tuesday ahead of the vote.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi voiced her support for the Democratic leadership position in a tweet on Tuesday.
“The Speaker of the House is chosen by the Majority Party. In this Congress, it is the responsibility of House Republicans to choose a nominee & elect the Speaker on the Floor. At this time there is no justification for a departure from this tradition. The House will be in order,” she wrote.
