Iowa's Congress members vote to keep Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. It didn't work

Iowa's Republican U.S. representatives voted to keep Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, but they were unsuccessful as a GOP-led revolt ousted McCarthy from his position.

McCarthy faced a vote, called a motion to vacate, that saw him removed from the speakership on a 216-210 vote. Eight Republicans joined 208 Democrats in removing McCarthy, making him the first speaker in U.S. history to be removed through a motion to vacate.

He faced anger from a small minority of Republicans in the wake of a government funding fight last week where McCarthy backed a deal to keep the government funded for about 45 days — without the spending cuts that hardline conservatives demanded.

More: Democrats won't save Kevin McCarthy as Matt Gaetz moves to oust him as house speaker: live updates

Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida filed the motion to oust McCarthy. And Democrats indicated Tuesday they would not try to save him, dashing his hopes of surviving with bipartisan support.

Republicans hold a slim majority in the House.

Ahead of the vote, Iowa's four Republican U.S. representatives indicated they would support McCarthy.

Here's what they said:

1st District U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican representing southeast Iowa, said deposing McCarthy will derail House Republicans' agenda.

"A motion to vacate is going to continue to derail our appropriations bills process in bringing those bills to the floor. It will upset and further erode our ability to investigate the Biden family corruption, which we've made significant progress," Miller-Meeks said Tuesday on the House floor.

She added in a social media post that a motion to vacate "would pause our work to fortify our porous borders."

Miller-Meeks released a statement following the vote praising legislation House Republicans have passed under McCarthy that would cut spending, increase military pay, strengthen border security and ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.

"But Matt Gaetz and his minions are single-handedly derailing our progress and eroding our ability to pass appropriation bills, hold committee hearings, investigate the Biden family corruption, issue subpoenas and work to secure the border and reduce crime," Miller-Meeks said. "Dismantling our leadership ruins our ability to work for the American people and I now see why Matt Gaetz is referred to as Biden’s favorite Republican."

More: Iowa's senators, representatives vote to avert a government shutdown. What they're saying:

2nd District U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican representing northeast Iowa, criticized Gaetz's effort as a "grandstanding sideshow."

"I am a HELL NO on the motion to vacate," Hinson wrote on social media. "Matt Gaetz's grandstanding sideshow is a disgrace — and why so many Iowans are frustrated with politics in Washington. We need to be working for the American people, not playing political games for Gaetz's personal benefit."

Hinson added, "I fully support Speaker McCarthy."

"We need to be focused on fighting the Biden agenda, not fighting amongst ourselves," she wrote.

Hinson released a statement following the vote where she again criticized Gaetz.

"Republicans had an opportunity to focus all our energy against the disastrous Biden agenda that has resulted in open borders, rampant inflation and skyrocketing crime," Hinson said in the statement. "Instead, Matt Gaetz has paralyzed the House and brought our work for the American people to a halt. Hardworking Americans are the ones who pay the price for political games like these — not the selfish politicians who play them. I will continue working to end the embarrassing chaos and dysfunction and pursuing solutions to the challenges Iowans are facing each day."

3rd District U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican representing metro Des Moines and central and southern Iowa, said Congress needs to focus on the budget process, not leadership fights.

"We have just 45 days to pass bills to get spending under control," Nunn wrote on social media. "Wasting even one day voting on a motion to vacate instead of budget cuts is self-defeating & DC politics at its worst. I am a NO on the motion to vacate & a YES to getting back to work for Americans."

4th District U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, a Republican who represents western and northwest and north central Iowa, said McCarthy has led the House GOP "with grit, purpose & resolve."

"Together, we have passed legislation to secure our border, cut spending, give parents a voice in their children’s education, and restore American energy independence," Feenstra wrote on social media. "Let’s keep delivering for American families."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Miller-Meeks, Hinson, Nunn, Feenstra support McCarthy in ouster vote