Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced he'll resign at the end of the year. His fellow Republicans will now have to work with a shrinking majority.

Reuters

Ray Bogan Reporter

Politics

McCarthy resigns, Republican says majority could flip if someone calls out sick

Dec 07, 2023

Ray Bogan Reporter

By Ray Bogan (Reporter)

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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announced he will leave Congress at the end of the year. The decision, announced in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, comes two months after he became the first speaker to ever be removed from the position.

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McCarthy said he will remain involved in Republican politics.

“I will continue to recruit our country’s best and brightest to run for elected office. The Republican Party is expanding every day, and I am committed to lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders,” McCarthy wrote in the Journal.

McCarthy’s exit means Republicans will hold just a 220-213 majority in the House of Representatives.

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Straight Arrow News spoke with some of McCarthy’s Republican colleagues after he announced his resignation. Here are their reactions:

Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif.

“He’s irreplaceable. I mean Kevin traveled, worked so hard to build this majority over the last ten years. He’s been patient, he’s been thoughtful, he’s been strategic, he’s been a major player. I believe he’s one of the few adults in the room in American politics right now.”

Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga.

“It hurts to be in a narrow majority, especially when it’s down to that narrow. If something happens to somebody, if somebody gets injured, if somebody gets sick. You got a lot of elderly people in this, and I’m an ER doc, and I’m consequentially aware that anything could happen that could literally flip the majority just because somebody’s sick.”

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. (One of the eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy as speaker.)

“He’s free to do what he wants to and he will make a lot of money.”

Rep. Garret Graves, R-La.

“McCarthy was one of the best speakers that we’ve had in modern history. He’s a great strategist, great on politics, he did the political side incredibly well and now we’re in a situation where the majority is even becoming more narrow.”

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis.

“Even post-speaker, given his experience, his presence was very valuable. Particularly whenever tensions got heated he had a, he could kind of come in as the elder statesman. He will be missed.”

Tags: House of Representatives, House Republicans, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Gallagher, Republicans, Tim Burchett, U.S. Congress

Straight Arrow News spoke with some of McCarthy’s fellow Republicans after he announced his resignation.

Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif: He’s irreplaceable. I mean Kevin traveled, worked so hard to build this majority over the last ten years. He’s been patient, he’s been thoughtful, he’s been strategic, he’s been a major player. I believe he’s one of the few adults in the room in American politics right now.

Rep. McCormick, R-Ga: It hurts to be in a narrow majority especially when it’s down to that narrow. If something happens to somebody, if somebody gets injured, if somebody gets sick. You got a lot of elderly people in this and I’m an ER doc and I’m consequentially aware that anything could happen that could literally flip the majority just because somebody’s sick.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-TN: He’s free to do what he wants to and he will make a lot of money.

Rep. Garrett Graves, R-LA: McCarthy was one of the best Speakers that we’ve had in modern history. He’s a great strategist, great on politics, he did the political side incredibly well and now we’re in a situation where the majority is even becoming more narrow.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-WI: Even post-speaker, given his experience, his presence was very valuable. Particularly whenever tensions got heated he had a, he could kind of come in as the elder statesman. He will be missed.