Volusia, Flagler-area congressmen vote against removing House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Niceville played a key role in finally bringing enough Republicans together to support Kevin McCarthy's election to the speaker's role in January. And on Tuesday, the Florida congressman led the effort to oust him in a historic, 216-210 vote.

McCarthy failed to deliver on all of the terms of a deal to land Gaetz's support, including holding votes on term limits and a balanced budget, and the Florida firebrand called him on it.

"Mr. Speaker, you are out of compliance with the agreement that allowed you to assume this role," Gaetz said, complaining that McCarthy's Congress has yet to subpoena President Biden's son Hunter and use the "power of the purse" to rein in spending.

"The only thing the 118th Congress is known for at this point is electing Kevin McCarthy speaker and underwriting Biden's debt, and unfortunately there's only one of those things we can remediate," Gaetz said.

While the vast majority of Republicans voted no, Gaetz found seven other GOP representatives, none from Florida, to join him and Democrats in voting to oust McCarthy.

'The right person': Congressman Cory Mills endorses Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid

A 'circular firing squad'

The two congressmen who represent Volusia and Flagler counties, Michael Waltz and Cory Mills, both voted no, but made different kinds of statements about the speaker's tenure.

Waltz posted twice on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday.

"In the military, we call this a circular firing squad," the former Green Beret wrote.

Later, after the vote, Waltz wrote: "Biden, Schumer and Pelosi are the happiest people in Washington."

Mills and Waltz were among the 90 Republicans who opposed the short-term funding bill that averted a government shutdown on Saturday. Mills talked about McCarthy's inability to bring appropriations bills to the floor as "a failure" to lead the GOP.

"But I would argue that doing a motion to vacate will also prevent us from achieving our goal, because we have 43 days left to get an appropriations bill," Mills said on Fox Business earlier Tuesday. "Without a speaker, we cannot vote for policy. We cannot vote for appropriation bills, and this would actually hinder us."

Republican John Rutherford of Jacksonville took aim at Gaetz, saying it was a "personal vendetta" against McCarthy and calling his concerns for cutting spending and securing the southern border "hollow."

"Rep. Gaetz is driving our nation toward the brink of another government shutdown, all for clicks and cash and a boost in his national profile," Rutherford said in a prepared statement. "His disrespect for his colleagues, this institution and the people we serve is a clear reflection of his lacking fitness to serve in Congress and has made him President Biden's greatest ally."

The seven Republicans who voted in favor of ousting McCarthy were Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eli Crane of Arizona, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Matt Rosendale of Montana

Democrats vote to oust McCarthy

All 208 Democrats in attendance voted in favor of ousting McCarthy, including Florida Reps. Darren Soto of Kissimmee, Maxwell Frost of Orlando, Kathy Castor of Tampa, Sheila Cherifilus-McCormick of Miramar, Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach, Jared Moskowitz of Parkland, Frederica Wilson of Miami and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Davie.

Moskowitz expressed concern prior to the vote, tweeting: "I do not believe this is a time for celebration. Our institutions are in great peril. But that is not the fault of Democrats."

But he later joked with fellow Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland about disgraced New York congressman George Santos as a potential replacement for McCarthy.

Frankel, meanwhile, defended her vote to remove McCarthy by saying he "catered to the will of MAGA extremists to win their votes, pushing deeply partisan bills that would criminalize abortion, take child care away from families, destroy public education and attack crucial benefits for seniors," while also "wasting people's time" with the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Who didn't vote?

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of St. Petersburg, an outspoken Trump supporter who voted against McCarthy on the first 11 ballots in January, did not vote Tuesday. She spun the discussion ahead with a comment about the type of candidate she'll support when voting on McCarthy's replacement.

"I will vote for the Speaker who publicly and clearly commits to defunding (Special Counsel) Jack Smith's anti-American election interference witch hunts and subpoenas Hunter Biden while bringing a vote on the impeachment of Joe Biden to the floor of the House," Luna posted on social media.

Celebrity Mug Shot Hall of Fame: Trump's photo is one of many. Who else has been arrested?

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: How Florida congress members voted on Kevin McCarthy's speakership