Democrats signal support for rescue of McCarthy but changed course

ByGemma Iso

October 10, 2023

Multiple House Democrats seemed poised to throw a lifeline to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as Tuesday’s pivotal vote to oust him loomed on the horizon.

The intrigue unfolded within the GOP’s Problem Solvers Caucus, a Republican member divulged that, until the eleventh hour, Democrats were willing to consider casting “present” votes. This tactical maneuver would have lowered the threshold required for McCarthy to cling to his political survival.

One name that stood out was that of Representative Matt Cartwright, a Pennsylvania Democrat who, although not a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, hinted early on that he might be open to supporting McCarthy’s cause.

“Even individuals like him were indicating they would vote ‘present.’ But something changed over the weekend. So, yes, the members of the Problem Solvers Caucus did not indicate that they were going to side with Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida.”

Gaetz and 7 Republicans

Representative Gaetz had initiated the motion to vacate McCarthy’s position on Monday evening. The following day, seven other Republicans joined forces with every House Democrat, forming an unlikely coalition aimed at dethroning McCarthy from his leadership role.

Recognizing that Gaetz might attempt the same move again if it failed initially, a Republican who spoke with Fox News Digital shared that he and fellow GOP Problem Solvers had implored Democrats to vote “present” during the initial procedural vote.

This strategic move would have allowed more time to develop a bipartisan proposal for overhauling House Rules, which could have made it considerably more challenging for members to topple the speaker.

Sources within the Republican leadership revealed that they had made last-minute efforts right up until the vote to persuade Democrats to join forces in saving McCarthy’s speakership.

Democrats change of heart

However, some House Democrats who had initially signaled their intent to help McCarthy’s cause ultimately changed course and sided with Representative Matt Gaetz in ousting the beleaguered speaker.

In the aftermath of McCarthy’s removal from power, several Republican lawmakers have contemplated their continued affiliation with the Problem Solvers Caucus, highlighting the divisive and unpredictable nature of contemporary American politics.