These 8 Republicans voted to oust McCarthy

Eight House Republicans joined House Democrats in ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. the first time a speaker is removed by vote

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) led the motion. The Florida lawmaker has been feuding with McCarthy for weeks over debates over passing budget bills.

Gaetz demanded McCarthy pass bills with major budget cuts, but McCarthy chose to support a deal to avoid a government shutdown with a 45-day, last-second budget extension.

Like Gaetz, the other GOP lawmakers cited the national debt or broken promises made to the House GOP as reasons for voting to remove McCarthy.

Here are the Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy:

Rep. Andy Biggs (Ariz.)

Biggs argued that McCarthy was no longer an effective leader of the GOP caucus during testimony on the floor Tuesday. He said McCarthy’s passage of the continuing budget resolution made him complicit in failures on the national debt and immigration policy.

Biggs said McCarthy did not properly use leverage against the Biden administration over what he saw as poor border policy.

“Until you get the budget and the spending going, you’re not going to see enforcement from this administration,” Biggs said.

“Speaker McCarthy has failed to prove himself as an effective leader who will change the status quo,” Biggs said in a earlier statement on Tuesday. “He has gone against many of the promises he made in January and can no longer be trusted at the helm.”

Rep. Ken Buck (Colo.)

Buck criticized McCarthy on Tuesday for going back on promises he made to members of his caucus when he was elected president in January.

“I supported Kevin McCarthy in January because I thought he was the person best positioned to deliver on our promises to our constituents,” Buck. he said in a statement. “It’s clear that we need a principled spokesman who can keep his word not just to members of Congress, but to the American people.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.)

In an interview with CNN early Tuesday, Burchett revealed that McCarthy called him personally, urging him to support her bid for the presidency.

Burchett claimed that in one conversation, McCarthy “belittled me and my belief system, and that pretty much sealed it with me right there. I thought that showed the character of a man.”

He continued, “I pray for my wife. I pray for my daughter. I pray for my enemies. I pray for the President. I pray for this president, you know, and when things come up, I pray for his son. And as a Christian, that’s what i’m supposed to do but when someone makes fun of me like that and makes fun of my religion and honestly the bible is pretty clear about how they make fun of god so that’s what seal for me.”

In a statement before the vote, Burchett said McCarthy failed on promises he made to pass a budget.

“It’s a tough decision, but I’m willing to vote to leave because we’re $33 trillion in debt. We have to change our direction or change our leadership,” he said.

Rep. Eli Crane (Ariz.)

Earlier Tuesday, Crane alluded to the consistent failures of GOP leadership, but did not mention McCarthy by name.

“Every time our majority has had a chance to fight for bold and lasting change for the American people, leadership has folded and passed measures with more Democratic than Republican support,” he said. the Arizona Republican said.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.)

Gaetz led efforts against McCarthy, criticizing him for budget deals and negotiations with Democrats over the debt ceiling.

“Washington needs to change. We need to put the House on a better path. McCarthy has failed to take a stand where it matters. So if he won’t, I will,” he said. said.

In a publish to X after the vote, he vowed to continue his efforts against the former president.

“The fight is not over. Now we have to choose a president,” he said.

Rep. Bob Good (Va.)

Good criticized McCarthy for accepting the continuing budget resolution, which kept the government open Saturday. This motion received bipartisan support in the Senate.

“The American people need a spokesman who will fight to keep the promises Republicans made to win the majority, not someone who will cut fiscally irresponsible deals that get more Democratic votes than Republican votes,” he said. in a statement.

Representative Nancy Mace (SC)

Mace criticized McCarthy for failing to “keep his word”, saying McCarthy failed to keep promises to fund the government without extensions.

“Today I voted in favor of the motion for unemployment and the removal of the president. It’s not about left vs right. It’s not about ideology. It’s about trust and keeping your word. It’s about making Congress do its job,” he said in a statement.

Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.)

Rosendale cited the national debt in his reasoning for voting to oust McCarthy.

“Our country faces $33 trillion in debt. Our border faces unprecedented encroachment. And instead of dominating energy, we now depend on energy,” he said in a statement before the vote. “The House of Representatives and the American people deserve a leader who can challenge the status quo and put an end to this ruin.”

Updated at 6:22 p.m. ET