Kevin McCarthy submits official House resignation

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.

According to state law, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has to call for a special election within 14 days of when McCarthy officially departs his seat. The election would then take place between 126 and 140 days after.

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.

In that hourlong conversation with reporters last week, McCarthy called his departure “bittersweet” — but did not rule out another job in public service or a Trump White House, saying: “Yeah, I believe in public service.”

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.

“I’m gonna raise a lot more money. I want to find conservatives who want to govern. Chaos doesn’t help us. And so, people who are willing to govern, I’m willing to help,” McCarthy said.

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