Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky tweeted Tuesday a video attacking Rep. Gaetz and other Republicans for removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. However, McGarvey himself did not vote in favor of the proposition and failed to mention this in his video criticizing Gaetz and the Republicans.
In his video, McGarvey condemned the removal of McCarthy as “unprecedented” and claimed to take no pleasure in the “Republican dysfunction” unfolding. Yet, he failed to mention that he was among the Democrats and “extremist MAGA Republicans” who voted to oust McCarthy from his position. This was the first time in American history that a Speaker of the House has been removed from office.
After McCarthy’s defeat, he announced that he would not seek reelection as Speaker. Several top Republicans, including Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise, have announced their candidacy for the Speakership, while others have been suggested as potential successors.
Jordan, currently the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has been endorsed by Scalise and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. He has also received praise from Gaetz, who called him a strong negotiator and a close ally of former President Donald Trump.
Scalise, the House Majority Leader, announced his candidacy in a letter to colleagues on Tuesday. He has also been endorsed by Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas. However, there are concerns about Scalise’s health as he is currently undergoing treatment for blood cancer and has a history of physical health issues after being shot in 2017.
Instead of working to do our jobs and pass a full budget for the American people, Matt Gaetz and the extremist Republicans just voted to end Kevin McCarthy's speakership—this is unprecedented.
Let's talk about what this means going forward ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/3TYgSJbhan
— Rep. Morgan McGarvey (@RepMcGarvey) October 3, 2023
Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, has also expressed interest in the Speakership. In January, he received votes from those who opposed McCarthy, but did not announce his candidacy at the time.
Another potential contender is Rep. Patrick McHenry, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and the current Speaker pro tempore of the House. However, there are doubts about his ability to garner enough votes from the Republican Conference.
Following McCarthy’s removal, some House Republicans have suggested that former President Trump should become the Speaker to unify the party. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has openly endorsed the idea, saying that Trump would end the war in Ukraine, secure the border, and end political corruption in the government. However, Trump himself has dismissed these speculations and says he is currently focused on the 2022 presidential election.
It is worth noting that the U.S. Constitution does not impose any qualifications for the Speaker of the House, including the requirement to be an elected member of the House. This means that Trump would technically be eligible for the role.
McCarthy’s removal as Speaker highlights the internal divisions within the Republican Party and the chaotic state of American politics. It is concerning that Democrats like McGarvey are quick to criticize McCarthy’s removal, but fail to mention their own role in the process. Ultimately, this situation has weakened and destabilized the party, leaving the future of the Speakership uncertain.