When Speaker Kevin McCarthy failed to keep his leadership post, his 269-day speakership became the shortest in more than 140 years. Seven previous members of Congress served single speakership terms shorter than McCarthy’s, which ended by resignation or dying in office. But those speakers served when their party was in leadership in other Congresses and ultimately had longer cumulative speakerships. No House speaker has served for less than a year in total since 1876. A House speaker has stayed in power for an average of roughly 638 days since 2001, compared to 459 days during the 19th Century.

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Persons: Kevin McCarthy, speakership, McCarthy, –, Michael Kerr –, Theodore Pomeroy –, Nancy Pelosi, Paul Ryan, Matt Gaetz Organizations: 118th, Republican