Has an effort to remove a House speaker ever succeeded? History says no
GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz is forcing a Tuesday vote on a so-called motion to vacate -- an effort to take away Speaker Kevin McCarthy's gavel. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz is forcing a Tuesday vote on a so-called motion to vacate -- an effort to take away Speaker Kevin McCarthy's gavel. While history shows previous such efforts over the years have always failed -- it's possible this one could succeed. The push marks an attempt by Gaetz to punish McCarthy for working with Democrats to pass a government funding stopgap bill last week and prevent a partial shutdown of the federal government. Once the motion to vacate is brought up Tuesday, Republicans could force a procedural vote to table Gaetz's vote on McCarthy, effectively killing the measure. If that fails -- or if McCarthy and his allies forgo a vote to table the motion -- the House takes up Gaetz's measure directly. U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to members of the media in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol, Oct....