Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher announced on Friday his intention to leave the House of Representatives next month, further contributing to the Republicans’ diminishing control over the chamber.
In a statement shared with X, formerly known as Twitter, Gallagher, who is 40 years old, announced his resignation from representing Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District effective April 19. The Republican congressman, who is currently serving his fourth term in Congress, had previously stated last month that he would not seek re-election when his seat is up in the fall.
“I have collaborated closely with House Republican leadership to establish this timeline and I am eager to witness Speaker Johnson’s appointment of a new chair to execute the crucial mission of the Select Committee on the Chinese Community Party,” stated Gallagher. “Throughout the remainder of my term, my office will remain operational and dedicated to serving the constituents of the Eighth District.”
Gallagher’s choice to forego seeking reelection garnered praise from supporters of the Make American Great Again (MAGA) movement. These individuals, who mockingly label Gallagher as a RINO (Republican In Name Only), were pleased with his vote against the impeachment articles brought against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last month.
Wisconsin law states that Gallagher’s seat will remain vacant until the general election in November. If Gallagher had left Congress before April 9, a special election would have been conducted to fill his vacancy.
With Gallagher’s departure, the House Republicans will see their majority shrink to only four members next month. This reduction in numbers means that the GOP cannot afford to lose more than one vote if party lines are strictly followed. Consequently, House Speaker Mike Johnson faces even greater pressure, as he is already facing criticism from conservatives for scheduling a vote on a controversial $1.2 trillion federal spending bill earlier on Friday. The passage of this bill would prevent a government shutdown if approved.
Johnson’s office responded to Newsweek’s request for comment by directing them to a statement made by the speaker regarding Gallagher’s resignation. In the statement, Johnson expressed his admiration for Gallagher, describing him as a trusted friend and colleague since their entry into Congress in 2017. He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside him.
Johnson expressed his gratitude for his leadership on Capitol Hill and acknowledged that he will be missed. However, he also expressed his happiness for him, his wife Anne, and their daughters as they embark on the next exciting phase of their lives.
Colorado Representative Ken Buck, a Republican who has been serving his district since 2015, made a recent announcement about his resignation from Congress. Buck had previously stated that he would not seek reelection after his term ends in November. When addressing the reporters on Capitol Hill, he revealed that his decision to leave is driven by the dysfunction within the Republican party.
The special election to fill Buck’s seat is set for June 25, which aligns with Colorado’s primary elections for House races.
After Friday, the party breakdown in the House will consist of 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats. Currently, there are three vacant seats in the chamber: Ohio’s 6th District, California’s 20th District, and New York’s 26th District.
The open seat in California was vacated by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican who was removed from his leadership position by members of his own party last fall and subsequently resigned at the end of last year. A runoff election is scheduled for May 19 to determine McCarthy’s replacement for the remainder of the current term.
Former Ohio GOP Congressman Bill Johnson departed his district in January to pursue the position of running Youngstown State University. A special election is scheduled for June 11 to select a successor to serve the remainder of Johnson’s term.
New York Democratic Representative Brian Higgins recently resigned from his position, leading to the scheduling of a special election on April 30 to fill his vacant seat.