THE ANGELS – Two months after his historic ouster as House Speaker, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy announced Wednesday that he is resigning from his seat in the Congress through California.
His departure will further reduce the narrow Republican majority in the House, following the expulsion of another member of his party, George Santos, last week in a special session based on a legislative report of misconduct and accusations of a series of irregularities, including financial fraud.
The announcement marked a surprising end for the former Bakersfield deli owner, who rose through the ranks. policy state and national until he became second in line to the presidency before a contingent of conservatives plotted his ouster in October.
In October McCarthy He became the first president to be removed in the 234-year history of the House of Representatives after a rebellion by supporters of former Republican president Donald Trump (2017-2021).
“No matter the consequences or the personal cost, we did the right thing,” McCarthy wrote in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, announcing his decision.
He is not retiring from politics
“It is in this spirit that I have decided to leave the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways,” he wrote.
His fall from the top job in the House of Representatives was fueled by complaints from the toughest wing of his party, including his decision to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open rather than risk a shutdown.
McCarthy, 58, came to the House in January 2007 after a stint in the California Assembly, where he was minority leader. In Congress, he worked his way through the party’s hierarchy — he was majority whip and Republican leader — before being elected House Speaker in January 2023.
The fight in the chamber that preceded his promotion to the highest position in the House of Representatives lasted several days and presaged a stormy term.
McCarthy needed a record 15 votes over four days to muster the support he needed to win the seat he had long coveted, ultimately prevailing in a 216-212 vote, with Democrats backing their own leader. Hakeem Jeffries, and six opposing Republicans made an appearance.
McCarthywho was elected to Congress in 2006 and whose last two-year term was due to end in January 2025, said he will continue in politics.
“I know my work is just beginning. I will continue to recruit our country’s best and brightest to run for elected office,” he said.
Party thanks
“The Republican Party is expanding every day and I am committed to bringing my experience to support the next generation of leaders,” he added.
Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, issued a statement thanking him for his work. “We wouldn’t have a Republican majority in the House without him,” she said.
Special elections will soon be held in the states of California and New York to replace McCarthy and Santos in the House of Representatives, with 435 seats.
Source: With information from AFP and AP
