Wisconsin Republicans vote against removing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

Wisconsin’s Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives all voted against removing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

McCarthy was ousted Tuesday afternoon in a historic vote. Wisconsin’s two Democrats, Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee and Rep. Mark Pocan of Madison, both voted to remove McCarthy, as did all House Democrats in attendance and eight Republicans.

Wisconsin Republican Reps. Scott Fitzgerald of Clyman, Mike Gallagher of Green Bay, Glenn Grothman of Glenbeulah, Bryan Steil of Janesville, Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst, and Derrick Van Orden of Prairie du Chien all voted to protect McCarthy from removal.

McCarthy became speaker in January after 15 rounds of voting and a series of concessions to hard-right members of his party. One of those concessions allowed for any member of the House to petition for his removal, which Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz used to orchestrate McCarthy’s ouster. Gaetz disapproved of McCarthy’s deal with President Joe Biden to increase the debt limit.

McCarthy also relied on votes from Democrats over the weekend to pass a short-term spending measure to avoid a government shutdown.

Earlier in the day ahead of the vote, Van Orden called the motion to vacate the speakership “a fool’s errand.”

In a speech on the House floor, Van Orden said he’s concerned about crime and the security of the country’s southern border, and that’s what he wanted representatives to focus on instead of the speakership battle.

“Today we will spend the people’s time so that someone can audition for a television show, or possibly the governorship of a state,” Van Orden said, alluding to Gaetz, who is expected to run for Florida governor.

Pocan, who voted with the majority to remove McCarthy, said on social media that he is frustrated over how McCarthy handled the stopgap federal spending bill.

“Kevin McCarthy has been untrustworthy since he was elected,” Pocan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I voted to vacate.”

The interim speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, moved the House into a recess Tuesday afternoon, allowing committees and concusses to come up with a plan. Negotiations and votes on a new speaker could continue into the night.