A select group of extreme right Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives orchestrated a vote of no confidence against Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday, plunging Congress into more disarray only days after it narrowly avoided a government shutdown, reported Reuters on Tuesday.
The 216-to-210 vote was the first time in US history that the House has dismissed its leader, with eight Republicans voting with 208 Democrats in deciding to oust McCarthy.
The former speaker informed reporters afterward in a press conference that he will not seek the Speakership again.
The House now appears to be without a leader for at least a week, and McCarthy’s removal as House speaker halts legislative work.
Certain Republicans expect to meet on Oct. 10 to debate potential McCarthy replacements. Extreme right Republicans such as Marjorie Taylor Greene are floating Donald Trump’s name as a possible Speaker of the House.
Republicans currently have a slim 221-212 advantage in the chamber, which means they can afford to lose no more than five votes if Democrats band together in opposition. A vote on who will be the new speaker is scheduled for Oct. 11.
Representative Matt Gaetz, a far-right Republican from Florida and McCarthy foe, spearheaded the revolt on Tuesday after the speaker had negotiated with Democratic members to pass a plan to prevent a partial government shutdown on Saturday and keep the government funded for another month or so. Another potential government shutdown is looming on Nov. 17 if Congress does not extend funding.
This was the latest fracas in a year that saw the Republican-controlled House push Washington in June toward a catastrophic default on $31.4 trillion in US debt and a partial government shutdown.