According to the search results, Kevin McCarthy was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives until he was ousted in a 216-210 vote on October 3, 2023. He is the first sitting House speaker in U.S. history to be ousted. The vote was led by hard-right Republicans, including Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who had been in a long-standing rivalry with McCarthy. The reasons for McCarthys ousting include:

• Averting a government shutdown: During negotiations, McCarthy tried to appease Gaetz and the House Freedom Caucus demands to drastically slash federal spending and completely reform the U.S. government away from the "woke and weaponized" institution it had become. They also demanded that McCarthy bring every individual bill to the floor, even though Congress was facing a ticking clock.

• Rivalry with Matt Gaetz: The resentment between McCarthy and Gaetz had been simmering for months. It started in January with the first showdown for the speaker. Similar to this time around, Gaetz led a defecting group of Republicans who repeatedly voted against McCarthys bid for speaker.

• Collecting special interest money: Gaetz accused McCarthy of rising to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favors.

• Untrustworthiness: Democrats broadly view McCarthy as untrustworthy after he broke an agreement on spending with Democratic President Joe Biden, and are angered by his decision to green-light an impeachment investigation of the president.

After McCarthys ousting, Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina took over as interim speaker. Unlike in January, when the House could not begin its work until a speaker was elected, it appears the first person on McCarthys succession list would serve in the role temporarily until a new speaker wins the gavel.