Tuesday, October 3, 2023

From the Washington Post: Kevin McCarthy tells House Republicans he won’t run again for speaker

For the first time, a sitting speaker of the has been voted out of office.

- Click here for the article

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), after being removed as House speaker Tuesday, told fellow Republican lawmakers that he won’t seek the position again. The vote to remove him was the first such action in congressional history. McCarthy’s ouster was sought by hard-right members of his own party. McCarthy was removed by a 216-210 vote, with eight Republicans joining all Democrats in favor of the removal. The move puts the House in uncharted territory as it searches for a leader.


Who is Kevin McCarthy?

Early political career

McCarthy served on the staff of Congressman Bill Thomas from 1987 to 2002. In 1995, he chaired the California Young Republicans. From 1999 to 2001, he chaired the Young Republican National Federation. From the late 1990s until 2000, he was Thomas's district director. McCarthy won his first election in 2000, as a Kern Community College District trustee. Thomas has since criticized McCarthy in numerous interviews.

McCarthy was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002. He became the Republican floor leader in 2003. In 2006, McCarthy was first elected to the United States House of Representatives as a representative for California's 22nd district. He succeeded his former boss, Bill Thomas, who retired. The district, which was renumbered as the 23rd in 2013 and then 20th in 2023, has had various changes in location, but now covers the southern half of the San Joaquin Valley.


H. RES. 757

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/757