Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) made his first move as House speaker pro tempore by ordering former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to vacate her Capitol hideaway office by Wednesday.
Republican Kevin McCarthy rode the tiger of far-right US politics led by Donald Trump to achieve his dream of becoming House speaker early this year. Then on Tuesday, the tiger turned and ate him.
Kevin McCarthy – who served in the job nine months after an intense 15-round struggle to get it – said after the vote he would not run for the position again.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel cautioned House Republicans that internal battles over who will be the next House speaker are distractions from focusing on defeating President Joe Biden in next year's elections. Republicans are seeking to retake the White House and Senate during the 2024 elections and increase their slim four-seat majority in the House.