Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) announced Friday he will be departing Congress sooner than he previously indicated, leaving Republicans’ majority in the House hanging by a thread.
On Friday, the lawmaker said he would be leaving Congress on April 19. The announcement came after he said last month he would not seek reelection.
“After conversations with my family, I have made the decision to resign my position as a member of the House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District,” Gallagher said in a statement.
“I’ve worked closely with House Republican leadership on this timeline and look forward to seeing Speaker Johnson appoint a new chair to carry out the important mission of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party,” he continued.
“Four terms serving Northeast Wisconsin in Congress has been the honor of a lifetime and strengthened my conviction that America is the greatest country in the history of the world. I will forever be proud of the work I did on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, chairing the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and chairing the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. It has truly been an honor to serve in the House of Representatives,” Gallagher added.
A statement from Congressman Mike Gallagher. pic.twitter.com/dOBcM8kbNV
— Rep. Gallagher Press Office (@RepGallagher) March 22, 2024
By the numbers: Republicans are set to be down to just 218 members to Democrats' 213 when Rep. Ken Buck's (R-Colo.) resignation takes effect on Friday. Gallagher will bring that to 217.
Republicans will be able to afford just one defection on any party-line vote when Gallagher leaves — any more would cause a bill to fail.
Higgins' replacement will likely bring Democrats up to 214, but three special elections in May and June to replace Buck and other Republicans will almost certainly give Republicans some breathing room.
Between the lines: Republicans were already panicking when Buck announced his resignation, and Gallagher's departure is likely to set off a five-alarm fire.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has also essentially dispensed with party-line votes in favor of voting on major, bipartisan legislation under a process that requires bills to pass with a two-thirds majority. (Via Axios, emphasis added)
Conservatives were highly critical of the date Gallagher chose to depart.
"This is calculated," argued conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. "Gallagher could leave now, and allow his safe Republican seat to be filled quickly. Instead, he is deliberately leaving on a timeline that will leave it empty until November, leaving the GOP majority even smaller and making a Democrat House takeover a real possibility."
Rep. Mike Gallagher has announced he is resigning his Congressional seat effective April 19.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 22, 2024
This is calculated. Gallagher could leave now, and allow his safe Republican seat to be filled quickly. Instead, he is deliberately leaving on a timeline that will leave it empty until…
Gallagher is in an R+15 district so he isn't protecting his seat from a Democrat winning a special election.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 22, 2024
He’s purposely leaving it vacant through November to sabotage the Republican majority.
Really letting you know what he actually thinks of conservatives on the way out. https://t.co/mB33xv3Ed9
Gallagher is purposefully leaving Rs with a one seat majority until November
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) March 22, 2024
These neocons are all agent saboteurs. Just horrible people https://t.co/66XraiBvEF
Gallagher's announcement comes after Buck hinted that more GOP resignations were in the works.
“.. Asked whether he's facing heat from his colleagues, Buck told @Axios: ‘I think it's the next three people that leave that they're going to be worried about.’”#CO04 https://t.co/VSjGCqW5Z4 pic.twitter.com/pstxSVB7oo
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) March 12, 2024
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