The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon voted against killing a measure that would remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post, setting the stage for a vote on it later in the day. There were 208 votes in favor of tabling the measure, or rejecting consideration of it, compared with 218 votes against that.
Earlier in the day, McCarthy said his chamber would be voting Tuesday on removing him from his post, adding that he expected to weather the action. “I’m confident I’ll hold on,” the speaker told reporters. But there were signs that his speakership was in peril, as House Democrats indicated they wouldn’t help him fend off the challenge that’s being led by a fellow Republican, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. “We are following our leader, and we are not saving Kevin McCarthy,” said Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, referring to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Jeffries, a New York Democrat, said in a letter to his colleagues that House Democratic leadership would vote yes on what’s known as a “motion to vacate.” Gaetz late Monday filed the motion to vacate after McCarthy relied on House Democrats to pass a short-term funding measure Saturday that averted a partial government shutdown. In order to work, Gaetz’s motion to remove McCarthy as speaker needs the backing of a majority of the House, wher …
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