Will Democrats Bail Out McCarthy Again After Gaetz Challenges His Speakership?

Yesterday, a federal government shutdown was averted after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy offered 45 day continuing resolution spending bill which did not include any cuts but offered no new money for Ukraine. Despite misgivings and reservations from Democrats concerning Ukraine, all but one caucus member went along with the bill and the federal government's doors remain open. 

This has prompted Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz to announce he will file a motion to vacate against McCarthy in an attempt to oust him as Speaker. Of course, it was Gaetz who was primarily responsible for it taking 15 ballots for Republicans to get behind McCarthy as Speaker in the first place and even included a heated face to face confrontation. One of the concessions McCarthy granted to Gaetz is that it would only take a single Republican to challenge McCarthy's status as Speaker and Gaetz is now exercising that provision.

The question is would Democrats save McCarthy's job, or will they allow Republicans to sacrifice him? Democrats have indicated that it will cost McCarthy more concessions if he wants their support (i.e. reverse course on Ukraine). 

I am inclined to think Democrats would rather deal with the devil they know in McCarthy. Because if Democrats throw McCarthy to the wolves, then there's a good chance they'll get someone a lot worse. Now I don't know if Republicans would back Gaetz as Speaker or heaven forbid Marjorie Taylor Greene, but they might back someone less controversial who will do their bidding. In which case, it would probably take more than one Republican to challenge the authority of the new Speaker. After all, who would accept such terms? Well, other than Kevin McCarthy that is. 

The long and the short of it is that if McCarthy is replaced then he or she will have more wiggle room to do damage and Democrats will be less of a position to stop it namely when the threat of another government shutdown lurks come November 17th. On the other hand, such damage could further motivate voters to return control of the House of Representatives to Democrats in 2024.