McCarthy Ouster Sets Up Search For Replacement Amid Uncertain Process

On the evening of 3 October, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) became the first-ever Speaker of the House of Representatives to be removed from office via a 'motion to vacate', engendering significant uncertainty within the US political system. It is unclear who on the Republican side could be best placed in replacing McCarthy, while the historic nature of the Speaker's removal could gum up the workings of Congress until a new Speaker can be voted in.

• Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced the motion to vacate in response to McCarthy's deal with House Democrats over the weekend to pass a 45-day stopgap bill to avoid a gov't shutdown. A total of eight GOP lawmakers joined with 208 Democrats in voting for the motion, with 210 Republicans voting against, a six-vote margin.
• Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is serving as acting Speaker at present, but has little authority. Majority leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) could be seen as the natural successor, but his recent cancer diagnosis might see him pass up the job. A Democrat taking the gavel seems very unlikely given the bitter ideological split in evidence at present.
• The actual process and timeline for getting a new Speaker in place remains unclear. There will be a concerted effort among moderate Republicans to get a new Speaker in place soon to deal with the gov't funding deadline now coming up on 17 November, but it is unclear if hardliners such as Gaetz will be as keen to fill the vacant chair.