(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) House Democrats are set to meet on Tuesday to deliberate on whether they will come to the defense of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to vacate against the House GOP leader.
Today I’m filing a motion to vacate against @SpeakerMcCarthy. pic.twitter.com/voGdX1Ky67
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) October 2, 2023
While McCarthy still maintains the backing of a majority of House Republicans, a vocal faction of MAGA-aligned members and some Democrats staunchly oppose his recent actions. Gaetz’s Monday motion could effectively drive McCarthy to the arms of the Democrats.
In response, McCarthy posted on Twitter, “Bring it on.” Gaetz’s motion came in response to McCarthy’s controversial decision to collaborate with Democrats in passing a clean stopgap government funding bill, effectively sacrificing his own legislation, which included funding for the southern border.
Bring it on.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) October 2, 2023
By Monday night, Gaetz told reporters he had enough votes to oust McCarthy unless Democrats save him. Earlier in the day, the Florida Congressman also accused McCarthy of plotting a secret deal with Democrats to unleash more taxpayer money for Ukraine.
“What was the secret side deal that @SpeakerMcCarthy made with Joe Biden on Ukraine?” Gaetz demanded on Monday. “Members of the Republican Party might vote differently on a motion to vacate if they heard the answer to that question.”
JUST IN: Representative Matt Gaetz speaks out after he files motion to vacate against Speaker Kevin McCarthy, says Democrats can adopt him if they want.
“If the Democrats want to own Kevin McCarthy, they can have it.”
“Because one thing I’m at peace with is when we stand here a… pic.twitter.com/2B5q8PgXtO
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 3, 2023
The motion placed House Democrats in a dilemma of their own. While Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has not formally announced a stance, reports from the New York Times suggest that some Democrats may be willing to lend their support to McCarthy in exchange for more concessions.
Notably, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a prominent self-proclaimed Democratic socialist, has unequivocally declared her intention to vote against McCarthy.
“My vote at the beginning of this term for Speaker of the House was for Hakeem Jeffries, and I do not intend on voting for a Republican Speaker of the House,” Ocasio-Cortez told CNN host Jake Tapper on Sunday.
However, she also acknowledged the potential for Democrats to strike a deal with McCarthy to preserve his position.
Rep. @AOC: “My vote at the beginning of this term for Speaker of the House was for Hakeem Jeffries, and I do not intend on voting for a Republican Speaker of the House.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday she “absolutely” would vote for a motion to vacate,… pic.twitter.com/FlFQejwZwE
— The Hill (@thehill) October 1, 2023
