Congressmen Andy Biggs and Eli Crane split from the majority of Arizona’s Republican Congressional Caucus when they joined six other GOP House members to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.
McCarthy was booted on Tuesday in a historic vote of 216-210.
Biggs, Schweikert, Ciscomani, and Crane explained their votes on social media:
Rep Andy Biggs @RepAndyBiggsAZ
I support Motion to Vacate.
Speaker McCarthy has failed to demonstrate himself as an effective leader who will change the status quo.
He has gone against many of the promises he made in January and can no longer be trusted at the helm.
I support Motion to Vacate.
Speaker McCarthy has failed to demonstrate himself as an effective leader who will change the status quo.
He has gone against many of the promises he made in January and can no longer be trusted at the helm.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) October 3, 2023
Rep. Eli Crane @RepEliCrane
I ran for Congress to make sure the voices of we the people weren’t steamrolled by the status quo. We need to change the ineffective and dishonest way this town works.
I am prepared to support a speaker who agrees.
— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) October 3, 2023
Rep. David Schweikert @RepDavid
Whatever policy differences that may exist amongst Republicans, the solution should never be to empower the Left.
My statement on the Motion to Vacate ⬇️
The decision by eight Republicans to vote with the Democrats to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker was reckless and wrong. Whatever policy differences that may exist amongst Republicans, the solution should never be to empower the Left.
Whatever policy differences that may exist amongst Republicans, the solution should never be to empower the Left.
My statement on the Motion to Vacate ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/HgrVUPRy8G
— Rep. David Schweikert (@RepDavid) October 3, 2023
Congressman Juan Ciscomani @RepCiscomani
Speaker McCarthy’s removal is pointless, unproductive and harmful to the agenda we put forth when we were elected.
More from me. ⬇️
The American people deserve better than the chaos controlling Congress right now. Speaker McCarthy’s removal is pointless, unproductive, and harmful to the agenda we put forth when we were elected.
We have 43 days to deliver on a spending package to fund the government, protect our border and rein in spending that has spiraled us into historic inflation levels. Yet a handful of Republicans partnered with Democrats to stop our efforts to get it done, obstructing the work we have at hand. Washington is broken.
But it is because so many Republicans believe Washington is broken that opposition to McCarthy is so strong in the Republican Party base. And it was McCarthy’s decision to rely on Democrats to cram through a Continuing Resolution last week that prompted Congressman Matt Gaetz to successfully remove McCarthy.