Perez votes to remove House Speaker McCarthy

U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, voted with her party Wednesday afternoon to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position.

All 208 House Democrats present and eight Republicans voted to remove McCarthy days after he pushed a stopgap spending bill through to avoid a government shutdown.

“What this country needs is somebody who can govern, and Kevin hasn’t been that leader,” Perez said in a statement. “I didn’t vote for Kevin to become speaker back in January, and I didn’t vote for him today. Instead, I voted for a new direction for the U.S. House of Representatives — one that serves the interests of normal Americans, not political extremists.”

In the statement, Perez said she embraces bipartisanship and is unafraid to work across the aisle, but that McCarthy has not shown the same willingness.

“He’s taken our country to the brink of a default and the brink of a shutdown because of his refusal to operate in a bipartisan manner,” she stated. “He’s shown he’d rather be held hostage by a bunch of weirdos than admit he cannot lead the People’s House.”

Perez stated that members of both parties now need to work together and come to terms on a stable, bipartisan governing arrangement, adding that, “my priority will always be what’s best for Southwest Washington and the country.”

Washington’s Republican House members voted to retain McCarthy.