House votes to oust McCarthy as speaker

The House voted 216-210 to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker, rendering the position vacant for the first time in more than a century in a stunning and historic event driven by revolt among Republican hardliners.

Eight Republicans, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), joined every House Democrat to push McCarthy out.

Meanwhile, Congress has until Nov. 17 to pass a bipartisan spending package or a stopgap continuing resolution, otherwise the federal government will shut down.

Gaetz led other anti-McCarthy Republicans in speeches on the House floor in which they alleged that the now-toppled speaker reversed himself on agreements with the Freedom Caucus related to spending issues, border security and aid for Ukraine. They also highlighted McCarthy’s role in passing a CR over the weekend that relied on Democratic votes to avert a government shutdown.