Republican control of the House of Representatives continues to weaken, as Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher has announced his intention to leave the chamber next month.
In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Gallagher, 40, announced his decision to step down from his role as the representative of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District on April 19. The Republican congressman, who is currently serving his fourth term in Congress, had previously confirmed that he would not be seeking reelection when his seat is up in the upcoming fall.
“I have collaborated closely with the House Republican leadership to establish this timeline and I am eager to witness Speaker Johnson’s appointment of a new chairperson who will be entrusted with the crucial task of leading the Select Committee on the Chinese Community Party,” stated Gallagher. “Throughout the remainder of my term, my office will continue to function effectively and provide top-notch constituent services to the Eighth District.”
Gallagher’s choice to abstain from running for reelection was previously commended by Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters, who mockingly refer to him as a RINO (Republican In Name Only) due to his vote against the impeachment articles targeting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last month.
According to Wisconsin law, Gallagher’s seat will remain vacant until the general election in November. If he had left Congress before April 9, a special election would have been conducted to fill his vacancy.
With Gallagher’s departure, the Republican majority in the House will decrease to four individuals next month. This implies that the GOP will be unable to afford losing more than one vote if party members remain aligned. Consequently, House Speaker Mike Johnson will face additional pressure as he is already facing criticism from conservatives for organizing a vote on a controversial $1.2 trillion federal spending bill earlier on Friday. The passage of this bill would prevent a government shutdown.
In response to the inquiry, Johnson’s office referred Newsweek to a statement made by the speaker on X regarding Gallagher’s resignation. In the statement, Johnson expressed that Gallagher has been a trusted friend and colleague since their entry into Congress in 2017. Johnson added that it has been an honor to serve alongside Gallagher.
Johnson expressed his gratitude for his leadership on Capitol Hill and acknowledged that they will miss him. However, he also expressed happiness for him, Anne, and their daughters as they embark on the next exciting chapter of their lives.
Colorado Representative Ken Buck, a Republican who has been serving his district since 2015, made the decision last week to resign from Congress at the end of this week. Buck had previously stated that he would not be seeking reelection after his term ends in November. In a conversation with reporters on Capitol Hill, he attributed his departure to the dysfunction within the Republican party.
The special election to fill Buck’s seat will take place on June 25, which happens to coincide with Colorado’s primary elections for House races.
After Friday, the party breakdown in the House will consist of 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats. At present, there are three vacant seats in the chamber: Ohio’s 6th District, California’s 20th District, and New York’s 26th District.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican who was ousted from his leadership position by members of his own party last fall, left an open seat in California. He officially resigned at the end of last year. A runoff election has been scheduled for May 19 to fill McCarthy’s seat until the end of its current term.
Former Ohio GOP Congressman Bill Johnson departed from his district in January to assume the position of running Youngstown State University. A special election has been scheduled for June 11 to select a replacement to serve out the remainder of Johnson’s term.
Last month, Brian Higgins, a Democratic Representative from New York, stepped down from his position. Consequently, a special election has been scheduled for April 30th to select his replacement.
