“The office of speaker of the House … is hereby declared vacant,” Rep. Steve Womack said, banging the gavel and making history as Kevin McCarthy became the first speaker of the House ousted by a floor vote.
“Now what?” a voice from the House floor cried out, as others gasped and murmured. Just nine months after McCarthy won the speakership in 15 rounds of voting, he has lost the perch for which he so desperately fought.
Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-N.C., assumed the role of acting speaker pro tempore and immediately called a recess, as Republicans filed one-by-one to shake McCarthy’s hand and offer their condolences. On the other side of the House floor, Democrats quickly surrounded Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and his leadership team.
