Amid House speaker drama, many in GOP want to do away with motion to vacate

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.


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Ahead of vote, McCarthy and Gaetz spotted on the House floor

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.


What Democrats said about McCarthy behind closed doors

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------."


6 Republicans now support motion to vacate

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


McCarthy presides over opening prayer, possibly for last time

McCarthy presided over the House opening prayer -- with his head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped -- possibly for the final time as his speakership hangs in the balance.

"On this day, may we sacrifice our inclination for contempt and instead initiate kindness," Chaplain Margaret Kibben said as she offered the prayer.

"Loosen our grip on judgment and instead may we grab hold of a generosity of spirit. May we foreswear our grudges and commit instead to exercise forbearance. Hold us accountable that our arguments will hold forth your righteousness and not ring hallow in our rightness."


Gaetz: 'Chaos is Speaker McCarthy'

Gaetz took aim at Cole's comments as he also slammed McCarthy and criticized Capitol Hill's approach to spending.

"Chaos is Speaker McCarthy," Gaetz said, rebuffing how Cole argued that the motion to vacate would create needless disruption in the chamber.

"Chaos is somebody that we cannot trust with their word. The one thing that the White House, House Democrats and many of us on the conservative side of the Republican caucus would argue is that the thing we have in common: Kevin McCarthy said something to all of us at one point that he didn't really mean and never intended to live up to."

Gaetz went on to lambast the size of national debt and deficit as well as the lack of single-subject spending bills -- something McCarthy has said he is also focused on enacting.