McCarthy ousted; Alabama delegation votes 6-1 to keep him Speaker

Days after brokering a deal to temporarily avert a government shutdown and only nine months into his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted Tuesday by a motion to vacate by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)

In a 216-210 vote, eight Republicans broke from their caucus, voting with the totality of House Democrats to remove McCarthy.

Alabama’s congressional delegation voted along party lines on the historic motion. Alabama’s singular Democrat, Rep. Terri Sewell voted “yes” on the motion to vacate.

(1/2) This is a sad and unprecedented day. Government works best when we have two functioning political parties willing to put people over politics. What is clear is that House Republicans are divided among themselves, unleashing chaos, dysfunction, and extremism at every turn.

— Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) October 3, 2023

Despite voting in favor of the “chaos” she described, Sewell blamed Republicans, while taking advantage of the intraparty discord.

Reps. Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer, and Dale Strong elaborated on their support for McCarthy.

“Our nation currently has many challenges, and certainly the debt of this country, and the crisis at the border, are issues that must be dealt with,” Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said. “Republicans must find a way to work together to do the most we can do until we can grow our majority. We don’t give up because we can’t win everything today. I will never give in and never quit fighting to solve the debt problem and the disaster at the border.

I am certainly disappointed that Speaker McCarthy has been removed. While no Speaker is perfect, as no member of Congress is perfect, I believe that Speaker McCarthy has done the best he can in bringing conservative bills to the floor.”

Palmer (R-Hoover) said, despite being disappointed, the House must still govern.

What we just experienced has never occurred in the history of our nation.

We have a job to do for the American people, and they deserve a unified majority focused on what’s best for the nation.

⬇️ Read my full statement below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eBrGDZ0eEy

— Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) October 4, 2023

“Our country faces a $33 trillion debt crisis threatening the future of all Americans – those living and those yet to be born. Our border is not secure, threatening not only our economy but also our national security,” Palmer said.

“As Republicans, we must find a way to come together and choose a leader who can unify our party and has the ability to address these issues head on. We have a job to do for the American people, and they deserve a unified majority focused on what’s best for the nation.”

Strong (R-Monrovia) noted that last week, 21 Republican members joined all 211 Democrats in opposing H.R. 5525, a bill which provided for 30 days of funding, while at the same time, reducing federal domestic discretionary spending by 30%.

He pointed out the House has passed four full-year appropriations bills so far.

“Today, 97% of Republicans in the House voted to abandon this Washington parlor game so that we can resume the consideration of conservative, single-subject funding bills,” Strong said. “In my short time in Washington, I have seen that some members are here to fight on behalf of the conservative values of their constituents and others here for sound bites.

“Today, I supported our speaker because we have a narrow window to finish our work on the appropriations process, and discord within our conference threatens our ability to put conservative legislation on the president’s desk.”

In the less-chaotic, higher chamber, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville also sounded off in passing:

Sen. Tuberville with the most Sen. Tuberville take on the Speaker drama in the House:

“If you lose your head coach midway through the season … things don’t work out too well.”

— Al Weaver (@alweaver22) October 3, 2023

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270