Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion on April 24, 2021 to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as House Speaker. The motion, which cited the “failure of the House Republican Conference to adopt compelling reforms,” came as the GOP is wrangling with internal divisions. Gaetz is among a group of House Republicans who are frustrated with McCarthy’s leadership and have grown increasingly vocal in their criticism. The motion looks to replace McCarthy with a “Speaker-elect” of the House, supported by a majority of House Republicans. Gaetz has maintained that the move is not an effort to remove McCarthy, but is rather an effort to reform the GOP’s inner workings.
