Political Showdown: Democrats Deliberate McCarthy's Future as GOP Moderates Push Rule Revisions to Rescue Speaker

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's allies are working to prevent a potential uprising from far-right factions aimed at removing the California Republican from his position. To gain support from House Democrats, moderate Republicans are suggesting revisions to the rules package governing the House's operations. These proposed changes include making it more difficult for any individual member to initiate a vote to remove the speaker, commonly referred to as the "motion to vacate." Additionally, alterations to the influential House Rules Committee, responsible for determining the process of bill introduction on the floor, are being discussed.

Democrats are being appealed to not just for the purpose of safeguarding McCarthy, but primarily to address the prevailing dysfunctional state of the House and enable them to resume governing. "In the event that the (motion to vacate) becomes a recurring event, we will have to collectively reexamine the rules package in a bipartisan fashion," stated Pennsylvania GOP Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, who also serves as the co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, in a conversation with CNN.

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This week, Matt Gaetz plans to try and remove Kevin McCarthy from the speakership. However, moderate Republicans may struggle to gain the support of the majority of Democrats. Democrats have a deep distrust for McCarthy, particularly due to his last-minute decision to pass a 45-day funding bill that avoided a shutdown but neglected Ukraine aid. McCarthy's reluctance to consider bipartisan solutions had frustrated Democrats for weeks, although ultimately all but one Democrat ended up supporting the legislation.

"The Democrats will demonstrate solidarity and collaboration, serving as a shining example of unity, in contrast to the disorder and discord prevailing within the GOP," stated Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, during an interview with CNN. He continued, "Essentially, Republicans who are pro-Trump must address the issues they themselves have caused. It is not our responsibility to oversee them as if they were children."

Another Democrat chimed in, expressing their frustration: "Even as Kevin [presumably referring to a specific individual] faces this vote, he continues to take actions that infuriate Democrats."

Some Democrats have cautioned their colleagues about the potential unintended outcomes of engaging in a rules-altering agreement.

"Are we willing to acquire a stake in the consequences of Congress' actions in the upcoming months, where we would have responsibility but lack control?" expressed one member.

GOP Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida announced on CNN's "State of the Union" that he will attempt to remove Speaker McCarthy from his position this week. However, Gaetz faces a challenging task as he requires the majority of the House to support his efforts. This puts Democrats in a tough position as they must decide whether to let McCarthy be ousted or negotiate a deal to protect him.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

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The challenge to McCarthy's speakership would mark the first time in over a century.

When asked by CNN if he would require Democratic support to maintain his position, McCarthy avoided a direct response and instead justified his approach to the stopgap bill. Asserting the need for a responsible decision-maker, he dared those who seek to remove him to take action.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the new top Democrat in the House, is under scrutiny as he is expected to take the lead in making an important decision. Currently, House Democrats do not have a consensus on what course of action to take or what they can potentially gain from McCarthy in exchange for their vote. Democratic leadership has informed members in a "Dear Colleague" letter that they will discuss the matter as a caucus this week. Sources indicate that Jeffries has been advising members privately to remain cautious and avoid making any side agreements. However, the majority of Democrats, particularly those in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, are unwilling to support McCarthy and do not trust him, even if he offers significant concessions, according to numerous Democratic lawmakers and aides.

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan insists that McCarthy must be held accountable for supporting an extreme agenda and enabling extremists within his party. She emphasizes that by refusing to support a motion to vacate, we are effectively endorsing this extremism, which is unacceptable to the residents in her district. Tlaib further asserts that the GOP's inability to govern has left the American people disillusioned. Nevertheless, sources suggest that a small number of moderate Democrats voting "present" may make it more challenging for McCarthy's critics to succeed. Alternatively, they may choose to vote to "table" the effort, effectively terminating it and aligning themselves with McCarthy. Several moderate Democrats have already indicated that they prefer the latter course of action.

What Democrats are weighing

Gaetz's success hinges on gaining the majority support from the chamber. Currently, only one Republican, Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona, has publicly endorsed the motion to vacate. However, credible sources suggest that there are approximately one to two dozen other Republicans who are contemplating supporting the initiative.

Therefore, Gaetz, who has been assessing Democratic support in recent days, would require the backing of nearly every Democrat. Nevertheless, Democrats have varying perspectives on how to proceed.

One Democratic lawmaker who favors removing McCarthy from his position expressed to CNN their lack of trust and respect for him. They consider him an unreliable partner who fails to fulfill his promises and consistently lacks integrity. According to this lawmaker, engaging in negotiations with McCarthy is futile.

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the bipartisan bill to fund the government, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 1, 2023.

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Biden calls on Republicans to fulfill their commitments regarding government funding and Ukraine aid. The erosion of trust began when McCarthy initially held Trump responsible for the US Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021, only to later meet with him in Florida. Democrats have also witnessed McCarthy disregarding bipartisan agreements, such as the debt ceiling and the National Defense Authorization Act, in his attempt to appease hardliners.

However, House Democrats are aware that there is no known Republican capable of garnering the necessary 218 votes to secure the speakership. They believe that they can utilize this situation to their advantage, using it as an opportunity to demand significant concessions. These concessions could include a power-sharing agreement, specific policy promises, such as a vote on Ukraine aid, bringing an end to the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, or adhering to the bipartisan debt ceiling deal in order to avoid contentious negotiations over government funding. Following their vote in favor of the stopgap spending measure, House Democratic leaders released a statement expressing their expectation for McCarthy to bring a bill to the floor providing funding for Ukraine. Additionally, President Biden indicated to reporters on Sunday that there was a supposed "deal" with McCarthy.

McCarthy's office did not disclose whether he provided any assurances to the White House or Democrats regarding Ukraine aid. However, they stated that the speaker believes any funding for Ukraine should be accompanied by border security provisions, a stance he has maintained for several weeks. A spokesperson for McCarthy reaffirmed his position, stating, "Speaker McCarthy has consistently emphasized the need to address the border crisis and ensure that any request for additional aid to Ukraine is accompanied by a well-defined strategy and accountability. The House will continue to address these issues in the upcoming weeks."

Warning McCarthy against such a move, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, on social media, emphasized the unpopularity of haphazardly funding war in Ukraine among the majority of the majority. Greene asserted that the Speaker, elected by Republicans, should not violate the Hastert Rule. In the event of McCarthy's ousting, the ensuing chaos would play into the hands of Democrats seeking to underscore the Republicans' inability to govern effectively.

"We aim to showcase their incompetence in front of the American public," stated a Democratic aide to CNN. "Our objective is to demonstrate their inability to effectively govern and reclaim control of the House."

Currently, House Democratic leadership advises members to refrain from publicly making decisions and to await additional instructions, as informed by a reliable source.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi advised her fellow Democrats to simply "Follow the leader," during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" with Jake Tapper. However, despite maintaining a more amicable relationship with McCarthy compared to his predecessor, Jeffries has experienced some recent indications of tension.

Twelve hours prior to the imminent government shutdown, McCarthy's lack of a clear plan resulted in a scheduled conversation between Jeffries, the speaker, and him to determine the course of action for the rest of the day.

However, according to a source familiar with the plan, this discussion never took place. Instead, McCarthy caught Democrats off guard by unexpectedly introducing a stopgap bill, leaving them rushing to read the legislation. This compelled Jeffries to deliver a lengthy floor speech in an attempt to gain additional time.