In pictures: Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

McCarthy and his future wife, Judy, pose for a photo at the top of the US Capitol circa 1987. McCarthy served on the staff of US Rep. Bill Thomas from 1987-2002. He started as an intern while attending California State University, Bakersfield.

McCarthy, left, meets with California Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, and other legislative leaders in 2003. McCarthy was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002.

McCarthy, as minority leader of the California State Assembly, talks to reporters in Sacramento, California, in March 2004.

McCarthy and California state Sen. Dick Ackerman wheel a cappuccino machine into Gov. Schwarzenegger's office in July 2004. This was after Democratic state Sen. John Burton, who in the past had delivered freshly brewed coffee to his meetings with Schwarzenegger, announced that he would withhold the services of his coffee maker because Schwarzenegger called his political opponents "girlie men."

McCarthy — bottom row, third from left —poses with other newly elected US House members in 2006. McCarthy succeeded his former boss, Bill Thomas, who had retired.

Kevin McCarthy poses for a portrait on Capitol Hill in 2007.

McCarthy listens to protesters on his way to the House Chamber, where he voted against a financial bailout package in September 2008.

McCarthy, center, attends a news conference in 2010 with House Minority Leader John Boehner, left, and Republican Conference Chairman (and future vice president) Mike Pence. They were unveiling "A Pledge to America," a governing agenda devised by House Republicans for the 111th Congress. McCarthy at the time was the GOP's chief deputy whip.

McCarthy, as House majority whip, joins other Republicans at a news conference in March 2011.

McCarthy sits with Israeli President Shimon Peres during a meeting in Jerusalem in August 2011.

McCarthy and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor brief reporters at the Capitol in September 2011. McCarthy would later succeed Cantor as majority leader in 2014.

McCarthy, left, arrives for a Republican Conference meeting in 2013.

McCarthy and his wife, Judy, enter a House Republican caucus vote in 2015.

From left, US Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi participate in a "first nail ceremony" kicking off the construction of an inauguration platform at the Capitol in 2016.

McCarthy, left, shares a laugh with US Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz as President Donald Trump signs a NASA appropriations bill in March 2017.

Trump rests his hands on the shoulders of Ryan and McCarthy as Republican leaders celebrated the House's passage of the American Health Care Act in May 2017. The bill failed to make it through the Senate.

Pelosi, the new House speaker, is handed the gavel by McCarthy, the new House minority leader, at the start of the 116th Congress in January 2019.

McCarthy leads a news conference at the Capitol in October 2019, after the House voted on a resolution outlining the rules for the next phase of Trump's first impeachment inquiry.

McCarthy trails Trump after Air Force One landed in Maryland in 2020.

McCarthy speaks during a reconvened joint session of Congress after the Capitol had been breached by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021.

McCarthy speaks to the press as Republican lawmakers toured the US-Mexico border in March 2021.

McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell address reporters after attending an Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden in May 2021. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with congressional leadership to try to find common ground on issues.

McCarthy holds his weekly news conference at the Capitol in July 2021.

McCarthy and Pelosi attend an event on Capitol Hill in July 2022.

An audio recording of McCarthy is played in October 2022 during a hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack. "Let me be very clear to you and I have been very clear to the President. He bears responsibility for his words and actions. No if, ands or buts," McCarthy told House Republicans on January 11, 2021, according to the audio obtained by CNN. "I asked him personally today, does he hold responsibility for what happened? Does he feel bad about what happened? He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened. And he needs to acknowledge that."

McCarthy stands between US Rep. Mayra Flores, left, Republican congressional candidate Monica De La Cruz, center, and Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as a mariachi band plays at an event in McAllen, Texas, in November 2022. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with CNN two days before the midterm elections, McCarthy outlined his plans for power.

McCarthy and an aide wait for a final tally of votes as the House meets to elect a new speaker in January 2023. McCarthy lost 14 votes over four days before he eventually secured the support he needed to win the speakership.

McCarthy celebrates with the gavel after being elected speaker in January 2023.

McCarthy shakes hands with Biden before Biden's State of the Union address in February 2023.

McCarthy, second from left, joins other congressional leaders as they meet with Biden and Harris in the White House Oval Office in May 2023. They were meeting to talk about a deal to raise the nation's borrowing limit and avoid a historic default.

McCarthy speaks with reporters as he leaves the House Chamber in May 2023.

McCarthy arrives at the US Capitol in September 2023.

McCarthy celebrates in September 2023 after the House approved a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown.

McCarthy walks back to his office after he was voted out as speaker in October 2023.