WASHINGTON – Despite building tensions and a divide over ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from his position, all five members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation voted to keep the California Republican in his seat.   

In a historic motion, 216 members of the House voted to oust McCarthy as Speaker of the House Tuesday, none of these votes came from Oklahoma. 

In a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Congressman Josh Brecheen  (R, Coalgate) said the motion was “ill timed” considering Congress has 40 days to fund the government before it faces another potential shutdown. 

“The Motion to Vacate will scatter Republicans and weaken our leverage as we try to cut spending and secure our border,” Brecheen said. 

While disagreements over passing a conservative spending bill nearly shut down the government last week, conservative Republicans, like Brecheen and Kevin Hern (R-Tulsa), voted against a continuing resolution that appealed to House Democrats and upset ultra-conservative members. 

“I’ve voted for McCarthy every speaker vote since I got here in 2018, and I’ll keep voting for him as long as he’s running,” Hern said in an emailed statement to Gaylord News.  

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Moore) attempted to table the measure, but the motion lost by a vote of 218-208. 

Gaylord News reached out to Stephanie Bice (R-Okahoma City), who’s supported McCarthy since his victory in January, Frank Lucas (R, Cheyenne) who returned to Washington last week after being injured on his ranch, and Cole for comment, but did not hear back. 

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) will serve as Speaker pro-tempore while the House votes for a new leader. On Jan. 9, McCarthy sent a list of names who could act as Speaker pro tempore in case of a vacancy, but the list is not public. 

Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.  For more news by Gaylord News go to GaylordNews.net.