House Speaker Kevin McCarthy planted the seeds of his own downfall in his January 2023 concessions

Tue, 10/03/2023 - 15:54

U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) rubs his face during the fourth day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

To become speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy was forced to make several concessions.
He agreed to change House rules to allow any member to bring a motion to vacate the speakership.
Less than a year later, the decision is already coming back to haunt him.

About nine months after getting elected as speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy's days as the top Republican in Congress' lower chamber appear to be numbered.