Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Announces Retirement from Congress
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, has revealed his plans to retire from Congress at the end of 2023. In an essay published in the Wall Street Journal, McCarthy expressed his commitment to doing what is right for the American people and stated that he believes his work is only just beginning.
McCarthy’s retirement comes after being removed as speaker earlier this year, which caused a three-week period of paralysis in Washington as the Republican conference struggled to find a new leader. With McCarthy’s departure, Speaker Mike Johnson’s majority will shrink to just three votes, making it more challenging for Republicans to pass key legislation, including two government funding deadlines.
To fill the vacancies left by McCarthy and Rep. George Santos (R-NY), special elections will be held in California and New York on February 13, 2024. These special elections add pressure to House leaders who have already faced difficulties in passing partisan legislation.
If Republicans cannot overcome their differences, Johnson may once again have to rely on Democratic votes to advance crucial legislation. Congress must approve new spending authority twice in the coming months, with the first deadline approaching in just over six weeks on January 19.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.