The race is on to elect a new House speaker showdown following the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday.
Two Republicans have officially thrown their hats into the ring ahead of the party hoping to choose a new leader next week.
McCarthy ally Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., introduced a motion to table -- or effectively kill -- Gaetz's effort to oust McCarthy.
Democrats then requested a voice vote on the motion, which is ongoing. It is a 15-minute vote.
Speaker McCarthy and Rep. Gaetz are sitting just rows away from each other on the packed House floor ahead of votes on the motion to vacate.
Sources in the room shared with ABC News some of what was said during the hourslong Democratic caucus meeting earlier Tuesday.
Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin specifically raised McCarthy's conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, slamming his about-face on Trump after initially blaming him for the riot.
New York's Dan Goldman told members he received a call from former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney agreeing with his view about removing McCarthy and that he, and Trump, were threatening democracy. Another member in the room familiar with Goldman's remarks told ABC News that Goldman was speaking for himself, and not quoting Cheney, when he said, "Let's get rid" of McCarthy.
California Rep. Adam Schiff, a movie buff, quoted "The Big Lebowski" in reference to Gaetz and their agreement over removing McCarthy: "You're not wrong, Walter. You're just an a------."
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., just announced his support for the motion to oust McCarthy.
"I have kept my promise to the people of Montana by voting to make us energy-dominant again, secure our border, cut spending, and to put an end to the social experiment being inflicted on our military," Rosendale wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy violated his promise to the American people and the Republican Conference by working against them repeatedly and supporting ploys to aid the Left. This demonstration of failed leadership is exactly why I plan on supporting the motion to vacate this afternoon," Rosendale added.
The five other Republicans who've said they want McCarthy removed are Rep. Matt Gaetz, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona and Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee.
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders
