North Carolina’s Patrick McHenry won’t seek reelection to Congress

Rep. Patrick McHenry announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection.

“I will be retiring from Congress at the end of my current term,” McHenry said in a news release. “This is not a decision I come to lightly, but I believe there is a season for everything — and for me — this season has come to an end.”

McHenry, 48, of Lincoln County, made the surprise announcement just weeks after leading the House through a tumultuous 22 days without a House speaker.

He has represented the 10th Congressional District in Congress for 10 terms since he was first elected in 2004 as the youngest member, at 29.

“Past, present, and future, the House of Representatives is the center of our American republic,” McHenry said. “Through good and bad, during the highest of days and the lowest and from proud to infamous times, the House is the venue for our nation’s disagreements bound up in our hopes for a better tomorrow. It is truly a special place — and as an American — my service here is undoubtedly my proudest.”

McHenry worked for 20 years in Congress to become the chair of the House Financial Services Committee, a position he gained this January. But he also maintained crucial roles within the House throughout his tenure.

In 2014, McHenry was tapped to become chief deputy whip. In 2017, when Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who served as whip, was shot in a congressional baseball practice, McHenry immediately stepped in to the role.

And in October, when a small faction of House Republicans worked to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, McHenry stepped in as temporary speaker to facilitate the election of a McCarthy replacement during a tumultuous three weeks.

Reactions to McHenry’s retirement

Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from Southern Pines who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, called McHenry “a giant of the House” and said he will “go down in history as one of the most consequential members to have ever served in the U.S. Congress.”

“His decades of service to the people of North Carolina and his leadership as Speaker Pro Tem during an unprecedented time for the House of Representatives will leave a lasting impact on future generations,” Hudson said. “I have known Patrick for 30 years and I am proud to call him my close friend.”

“Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, said McHenry would be missed in Congress.

“Congressman McHenry has been an extraordinary leader and problem solver who always rises to the occasion, most recently spearheading a bipartisan deal that saved our country from default and secured the largest spending cut in history,” Tillis said.

Acting speaker after Kevin McCarthy deposed

McHenry served as one of McCarthy’s top lieutenants. He often was seen by McCarthy’s side helping to whip votes and get Republicans to fall in line.

But the 118th Congress has had one of the least productive years in history. The slim majority House Republicans hold over Democrats allowed the far-right House Freedom Caucus to hold bills and policy hostage in order to get McCarthy to bend to their will. That has led to few laws being passed and Republican infighting.

That came to a head in October, after McCarthy decided to work with Democrats to ensure he could pass a short-term government spending bill that prevented an immediate government shutdown. In retaliation, members of the Freedom Caucus then worked with Democrats to fire McCarthy from his leadership position. It was the first time in the country’s history that members of the House ousted their own speaker.

Then, McHenry found his name at the top of a secret list McCarthy was required to keep as part of a post-9/11 law of potential successors in case something were to happen to him. McHenry was immediately named interim speaker and was tasked with helping the House find a replacement for McCarthy, which turned into a grueling three-week series of battles among Republicans.

At times, McHenry’s colleagues, including Democrats, asked him to take on more power as interim speaker than he felt the Constitution allowed, and he refused. He told McClatchy last month that since he was the first person to hold a temporary speaker position, everything he did would become precedent and he didn’t want to exceed the authority given to him.

McHenry said Tuesday he has worked every day since he was first elected “to uphold the constitution and the system of government our founders so wisely created.”

After 22 days, Rep. Mike Johnson prevailed and became House speaker.

At the time, rumors abounded on Capitol Hill that McHenry might not seek reelection, but he quickly stopped those conversations by putting out a news release that stated otherwise.

And that made McHenry’s announcement Tuesday even more surprising.

Days after George Santos vote

McHenry’s decision came less than a week after he and Rep. Dan Bishop became the only members of North Carolina’s delegation to vote against expelling Rep. George Santos from Congress. Santos lost his seat in Congress after facing several criminal charges and a damning ethics report that uncovered his alleged use of campaign funds to purchase designer goods, Botox and services on OnlyFans, as well as making unauthorized payments from donors’ credit cards.

Those who voted to keep Santos said it was unprecedented to oust a sitting member of Congress prior to a conviction.

McHenry was also the only Republican House member from North Carolina who voted to certify the election of President Joe Biden.

“Beyond the fact that voting against certification of legally submitted electors would violate the oath I took to our Constitution; I also have serious concerns about the precedent these actions could set were they to succeed,” McHenry said in a statement at the time.

On Tuesday, McHenry thanked his constituents, saying he “strived each day in this job to not let you down,” and his staff for their work in his office. He also thanked his family and those who mentored him.

He did not offer any preview of what’s next in his future.

But he did address the future of Congress. McCarthy is also expected to announce he will not seek reelection, and several others have announced retirements.

“There has been a great deal of handwringing and ink spilled about the future of this institution because some — like me — have decided to leave,” McHenry said. “Those concerns are exaggerated. I’ve seen a lot of change over twenty years. I truly feel this institution is on the verge of the next great turn. Whether its 1974, 1994, or 2010, we’ve seen the House evolve over time. Evolutions are often lumpy and disjointed but at each stage, new leaders emerge. There are many smart and capable members who remain, and others are on their way. I’m confident the House is in good hands.”

Filing in North Carolina for the 2024 elections began Monday and continues through Dec. 15. The primary is March 5.