Shortly after the peak came autumn. Within one year, Kevin McCarthy (58) landed his long-awaited dream job, then dramatically lost it and now, quite suddenly, his career as an actor is over. “I have decided to leave the House at the end of this year,” McCarthy wrote in an op-ed on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal. He wants to “serve America in new ways.”
This move comes as a surprise to many in Washington. McCarthy says he’s not saying goodbye to politics. “I know my work has only just begun,” he said. “I am committed to sharing my experience with a new generation of leaders.”
Finished by the author
Thomas Roepe is the US correspondent for De Volkskrant. Lives in New York. He is the author of the book Laura H.
In October, McCarthy made history as the first Speaker of the House to be voted out of office. Members of the far-right party attacked him after he presented the budget law with the support of Democrats. The money is gone. As president he had to choose between one closeOr a forced closure of the US government, or a political settlement. McCarthy made the final decision and was punished.
McCarthy constantly emphasized that, despite everything, he wanted to remain a member of Congress. The deadline to run for re-election in his home state of California ends this week. He will miss it.
“I hope no one dies”
Kevin McCarthy’s unexpected departure is putting pressure on the narrow Republican majority in the House. After the 2022 midterm elections, which were disappointing for the right, they were stuck with just four more seats than Democrats. This number became three last week, after the impeachment of fraudulent Congressman Jorge Santos.
It will become more difficult for Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House, to lead his irregular caucus. The narrow majority does not provide any room for opposition. McCarthy leaves behind many angry allies, and the division created by his ouster is far from over.
The question now is what will happen to McCarthy’s seat. His district leans strongly Republican, but time is of the essence. If McCarthy formally steps down before the end of this week, California will be legally obligated to hold an emergency election. If McCarthy waits longer, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will have the option of leaving the seat empty until the November 2024 election.
“I can assure you that Republican voters did not help us get the majority to stop the ship,” McCarthy ally Marjorie Taylor Greene responded to X. “I hope no one dies,” she added.
