Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) submitted his official resignation from Congress on Tuesday, effective Dec. 31. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the great people and commu…

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) submitted his official resignation from Congress on Tuesday, effective Dec. 31.

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the great people and communities of Kern, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Tulare, Fresno, and Kings counties over the past 17 years — and especially my hometown of Bakersfield in the central valley of the great state of California,” McCarthy said in a communication to the House, read by the House reading clerk.

McCarthy, who made history as the first Speaker to be formally removed from the post, announced his coming resignation earlier this month, just before California’s deadline to file for reelection.

He said he plans to stay involved in recruiting and mentoring candidates.

With his official resignation, it is possible the already razor-thin House majority could shrink to two members in the coming months, depending on the timing of other planned resignations and special elections.

  • Bone
    57•1 year ago

    He accomplished nothing and got booted by his own party in record time.

  • @grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    39•1 year ago

    McCarthy, who made history as the first Speaker to be formally removed from the post, announced his coming resignation earlier this month, just before California’s deadline to file for reelection.

    Gavin Newsom (D) has to call for a special election within 14 days of when McCarthy officially departs his seat.

    Speaking to reporters last week, McCarthy referenced a quirk in California election law that could have allowed Newsom to keep the seat vacant rather than calling for a special election if he stayed in Congress into January — a scenario that happened when former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) resigned in 2020.

    A piece of shit to the very end, deliberately timing it to force California to waste money on a special election (that would likely have lower turnout and thus skew Republican, to boot).

  • GhostalmediaEnglish
    32•1 year ago

    He was a piece of shit, but I got to hand it to him, helping to kick out Santos, and then bailing and leaving them with an even slimmer majority, is pretty funny.

    They’re now 2 seats over the majority, and it’s even easier for freedumb caucus folks to shoot the party in the foot.

    • @dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6•1 year ago

      They’re now 2 seats over the majority

      Not quite, Republicans currently have an 8 seat advantage after Santos’ ouster, 221 to 113, and after Kevin leaves it will be a 7 seat majority.

      It is referred to as a “three vote majority” because in a yes/no vote, Republicans can afford to only have three members vote against the party and still have a measure pass. Once Kevin leaves, though , it will still be 3 votes. There is another Republican planning to leave, though, and if that person leaves before the vacant seats are filed, then we are down to a 2 vote majority.

  • AutoTL;DRBEnglish
    8•1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) submitted his official resignation from Congress on Tuesday, effective Dec. 31.

    “It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the great people and communities of Kern, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Tulare, Fresno, and Kings counties over the past 17 years — and especially my hometown of Bakersfield in the central valley of the great state of California,”  McCarthy said in a communication to the House, read by the House reading clerk.

    McCarthy, who made history as the first Speaker to be formally removed from the post, announced his coming resignation earlier this month, just before California’s deadline to file for reelection.

    Gavin Newsom (D) has to call for a special election within 14 days of when McCarthy officially departs his seat.

    Speaking to reporters last week, McCarthy referenced a quirk in California election law that could have allowed Newsom to keep the seat vacant rather than calling for a special election if he stayed in Congress into January — a scenario that happened when former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) resigned in 2020.

    And he did not rule out using his campaign war chest to boost primary challengers to the eight House Republicans who voted to oust him.

    The original article contains 327 words, the summary contains 201 words. Saved 39%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

    • @Godric@lemmy.world
      11•1 year ago

      ??? Man beefed with the far right Trumpers to get something done and then lost his speakership over it. He’d stay on if he wanted to kiss the ring, thinning the majority is not an act of worship.