After narrowly winning the House of Representatives by a few seats in 2022, Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was elected Speaker of the House. However, his rise to the highly coveted role was not without contentions. The Republican Party has been extremely divided following the 2020 election. Donald Trump was the glue that held the Republican Party together, as there was unity under his leadership. However, when Trump lost the 2020 Presidential Election, the Republican Party slowly began to face inner turmoil. In 2023, after narrowly winning a majority of the House, Republicans could not decide on a House Speaker. Republicans only have a nine-seat majority (ABC News). It took 15 ballots, 4 days, and 216 votes to finally vote for Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House (Roll Call). 

McCarthy should have naturally assumed the role of leader of the Republican Party, however, he did not. The Republican Party is divided, with many members of Congress speaking out against McCarthy. Some Republicans believed McCarthy conceded to Democrats too often. Members of the House Freedom Caucus (a caucus of more conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives) believed McCarthy made too many compromises with Democrats regarding raising the debt limit.

The dislike of McCarthy in the Republican Party ultimately allowed members to join with Democrats and oust McCarthy as speaker of the House. In a vote of 216-to-210, eight Republicans joined 208 Democrats to remove McCarthy as speaker. This event was historic, as no Speaker of the House has ever been removed. Ultimately, Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04) was elected Speaker of the House.

This article previously ran in the December print edition.