Rep. Mike Gallagher set to leave House, shrinking GOP majority
- Gallagher's departure leaves the GOP an effective one-vote majority
- The timing means his seat will remain vacant until after the November election
- Infighting in the party could lead to Speaker Mike Johnson's removal
File – Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., listens during a hearing of a special House committee dedicated to countering China, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
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(NewsNation) — House Republicans are facing another blow to their control of the chamber as Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., retires, the latest in a string of Republican departures from Congress.
Gallagher’s final days — he’s expected to be around for weekend votes on a foreign aid package before leaving — also come as Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is facing a possible motion to vacate. If Johnson is removed, it would require consensus among GOP members to elect a new speaker or risk Democrats succeeding in wooing moderate Republicans and installing Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., in the office instead.
Who is Mike Gallagher?
Gallagher has served in his role since 2017, following a military career in intelligence. While Gallagher largely followed the lead of former President Donald Trump in voting, he was one of seven Republicans to object to efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election in Congress.
He was also a “no” vote in the first effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Why is Mike Gallagher resigning?
Gallagher announced his resignation earlier in the year, saying he would not be finishing out his term. He specifically cited death threats and swatting threats against his family as factors leading to his decision. Gallagher and his wife have two young children, and he said that while he may have signed up for death threats by running for office, his family did not.
His remarks come as fears of political violence are rising ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In recent days, some Republican lawmakers have made remarks that seem to suggest supporters use violence against protesters and that they carry weapons.
What does this mean for the House majority?
Gallagher’s departure is bad news for the Republican Party, as it will further narrow the GOP’s already thin majority it has held since the start of the term. Now, the party can only lose one vote and still be able to pass legislation.
Because of the timing of his resignation, Wisconsin law does not allow for a special election, leaving his seat empty until January 2025. According to reports, other Republicans are considering similar moves as the party battles with infighting, raising the possibility that the GOP could entirely lose its majority before the upcoming election.
