By Cameron Arcand | The Center Square
Two Arizona Republican congressmen played a vocal role in Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s removal as Speaker of the House on Tuesday.
Reps. Andy Biggs and Eli Crane were two of the eight Republicans to vote in favor of a change of leadership, and they have been vocally opposed to McCarthy’s leadership since before he took the gavel in January. The Democrats united against McCarthy and voted with the slim Republican opposition to him.
“I support Motion to Vacate. Speaker McCarthy has failed to demonstrate himself as an effective leader who will change the status quo,” Biggs, who was up for a vote as a McCarthy alternative in January, posted Tuesday afternoon. “He has gone against many of the promises he made in January and can no longer be trusted at the helm.”
In addition, Crane, a freshman lawmaker, expressed his discontent with House Republican leadership before the vote.
“Each time our majority has had the chance to fight for bold, lasting change for the American people, leadership folded and passed measures with more Democrat support than Republican,” Crane posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Although Paul Gosar originally opposed McCarthy taking the reins, he voted to keep him in power. Reps. Debbie Lesko, David Schweikert, and Juan Ciscomani also voted to keep him, and Ciscomani made his position clear on Monday when it became clear that a motion to vacate the Speaker of the House was coming down the pipeline.
“[House Republicans] have passed bills to restore American energy independence, claw back wasteful spending & secure the border with the strongest border security bill in years. We have 45 days to fund our priorities. There’s no time to waste. I stand with [Speaker McCarthy] to get it done,” Ciscomani posted.
The final vote was 216-210, and it is the first time in American history that a Speaker of the House has been removed by lawmakers. It’s unclear if he will eventually make his way back to the position. The January vote took 15 tries to get McCarthy as Speaker.
Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
