McCarthy exited the chamber declining to comment after the House voted to remove him.

Several members in GOP leadership are currently meeting inside McCarthy's office. Republicans are slated to gather behind closed doors on Tuesday evening for a conference meeting.

McCarthy shook his head slightly when the presiding officer slammed the gavel after the roll call vote.

Gaetz spoke to reporters outside the Capitol just moments after his motion to vacate succeeded.

"The stages of grief are in progress," he said.

The Florida Republican floated names for who could become the next speaker. On his list were House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern.

Gaetz said he will "absolutely not" put himself forward for speakership.

In the minutes after the motion to vacate against McCarthy, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was named as speaker pro tempore, an interim role to lead the chamber until another speaker is elected at a future point.

McHenry is a top McCarthy ally and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

He recessed the House for caucus meetings.

Eight Republicans voted to take away McCarthy's gavel.

In addition to Gaetz, who introduced the motion to vacate, the following Republicans voted to oust McCarthy: Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eli Crane of Arizona, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Matt Rosendale of Arizona.

Every Democrat present also supported the motion to vacate.

The House has canceled votes for the remainder of the week, according to Majority Whip Tom Emmer.

GOP sources say that Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry told party members during a Tuesday night conference meeting that the House is expected to recess until Oct. 10 -- and the plan is to hold a speaker candidate forum that day and then a vote for a permanent speaker on Oct. 11.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise appears to be emerging from the closed-door conference meeting as the front-runner to replace McCarthy.

Both House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik and Emmer indicated they're not running for speaker.

It's unclear if Scalise has enough support to succeed, but he spoke to reporters as he walked back to his office.

"We have a lot of work to get done, but I haven't made any formal announcement," Scalise, R-La., said.

"Clearly within our conference, we have a very tight majority," he acknowledged. "Getting things that done is going to be difficult in the tight majority. It's still will be so no matter who's going to be the next speaker, the challenges still remain, but I think the opportunity is there to continue moving forward."

Asked whether he is physically up to the job as speaker as he continues treatment for blood cancer, Scalise said, "I feel great."