ANALYSIS: Behind the Historic Vote to Oust McCarthy as Speaker

California Republican loses narrow vote after failing to fulfill promise to restore ‘Regular Order’ on federal spending process.

(Left) Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) departs from the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Sept. 29, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images); (Right) Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks at a press conference on Border Security in the Rayburn Room at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 29, 2023. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Kevin McCarthy became the first-ever speaker of the House of Representatives to be ousted, after eight of the most conservative Republicans on Tuesday gave up on the California Republican’s leadership, saying he failed to deliver on promises he made in January, including especially to fight for cutting federal spending back to pre-COVID pandemic levels.

The California Republican’s shocking loss came on a 216–210 tally.