Kevin McCarthy’s speakership is hanging by a thread.
Democrats unanimously joined with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and a handful of conservatives in a vote to move forward on a motion to oust the speaker, a signal McCarthy may not have the support to keep his post.
For the first time in 113 years the House will vote on a resolution to remove the speaker. Unless McCarthy can flip some members after the procedural vote results, he will likely lose his gavel. If ousted, his allies expect he would try to run for speaker again.
If McCarthy is removed, the House clerk would select a temporary speaker from a secret list of McCarthy’s hand-picked successors. The first name on that list would become acting speaker and have all the authority of a regularly elected speaker.
