WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who announced last month he would not run for re-election, will resign from Congress early, he confirmed in a statement Friday.
Gallagher’s departure before the end of his term in January is another blow to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Republicans, who have been struggling to govern and demonstrate stability this Congress.
Two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News of Gallagher’s plan to resign early on Friday. The Wisconsin Republican then released a statement announcing that he will depart on April 19.
That could cause more headaches for House Republicans. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., who also is not seeking re-election, is resigning from Congress on Friday, cutting the GOP’s minuscule majority to 218-213. When Gallagher leaves, the majority would further shrink to 217-213, meaning Republicans could only afford a single defection on any vote if Democrats vote together.
Gallagher, 40, is the chairman of the select committee investigating the Chinese Communist Party. It’s highly unusual for a committee chairman to resign in the middle of the term.
But Gallagher, an institutionalist, has grown frustrated with his own party. He was one of three Republicans who voted against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last month.
He is one of several top Republican chairmen who are not running for re-election in November following a tumultuous House session.
Earlier Friday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a motion to oust Johnson from the speakership over his handling of funding the government, though no vote is scheduled yet. It follows a similar motion, made by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that successfully toppled then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., last fall.
Kyle Stewart contributed.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
