Baghdad-INA
Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted as Speaker of the US House of Representatives in October, announced his intention to resign from Congress at the end of the year.
The resignation of the 58-year-old California representative will reduce the slim majority enjoyed by Republicans in the House of Representatives to 220 seats, compared to 213 for Democrats.
McCarthy’s announcement comes days after New York Republican Representative George Santos was stripped of his position due to scandals of fraud, impersonation, and spending donor funds, making him the sixth member to be expelled since the founding of Congress in 1789.
Two months ago, McCarthy became the first Speaker of the House of Representatives to be removed from office in the 234-year history of the House.
McCarthy was overthrown by a rebellion of far-right Republican representatives who were angered by his cooperation with the Democratic Party, especially the reaching of a settlement that avoided a government shutdown.
McCarthy, who was elected to Congress for the first time in 2006 and whose term ends in January 2025, announced his intention to resign in an article in the Wall Street Journal, but stressed that he would remain involved in Republican politics.
“I know my work has only just begun,” he wrote, adding, “The Republican Party is expanding every day, and I am committed to offering my experience to support the next generation of leaders.”
Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, issued a statement thanking McCarthy for his service and calling him a “dedicated public servant.”
“We could not have had a Republican majority in the House of Representatives without him,” she added.
By-elections will be held in California and New York to elect alternatives to McCarthy and Santos in the 435-seat House of Representatives.
2023-12-10 16:19:21