Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will leave Congress at the end of the year.
The California Congressman broke the news in an opinion piece published by The Wall Street Journal on Dec. 6. McCarthy wrote that he “decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways” and that his work “is only getting started.”
“The most reliable solution to what ails America is before our eyes: everyday men and women who are raising families, showing up for work, volunteering, and pursuing the American Dream with passion and purpose,” wrote McCarthy. “Despite the best attempts by special interest groups and the news media to divide us, I have seen the goodness of the American people. They are what will ultimately uphold the enduring values of our great nation.”
“I never could have imagined the journey when I first threw my hat into the ring,” the Republican added. “I go knowing I left it all on the field—as always, with a smile on my face. And looking back, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
McCarthy was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and represents California’s 20th District. Prior to entering politics, McCarthy opened a deli at the age of 21. He was later elected to the California State Assembly in 2002 where he went on to serve as the chamber’s Republican Leader.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, he was elected the House Majority Whip in 2010, Majority Leader in 2014, and the House Republican Leader in 2018.
He became the House Speaker in January after an unprecedented 15 rounds of voting.
“The spectacle concluded in stunning fashion during the tense, late-night session on the House floor that erupted in shouting and finger pointing. A Republican lawmaker had to be physically restrained by a colleague,” reported The Guardian at the time. “But the bitter speakership battle, the longest since 1859, ended shortly after, when the last remaining holdouts switched their votes to ‘present’, lowering the threshold and allowing McCarthy to secure the post.”
Ultimately, 216 Republicans backed McCarthy.
In October, he was removed from the leadership position – marking the first time a House speaker has ever been removed. The campaign to oust McCarthy was largely led by Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.
McCarthy’s announcement comes one day after North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry, who took over as speaker pro tempore during the search for a replacement, announced he will retire at the end of his term in 2025.
“As the son of a firefighter from Bakersfield, my story is the story of America. For me, every moment came with a great deal of devotion and responsibility,” McCarthy said in a video posted on X after his op-ed was released. “Serving you in Congress and as the 55th Speaker of the House has been my greatest honor.” As the son of a firefighter from Bakersfield, my story is the story of America. For me, every moment came with a great deal of devotion and responsibility.
Serving you in Congress and as the 55th Speaker of the House has been my greatest honor. pic.twitter.com/jNnYQ8UO4k
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) December 6, 2023
