Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced he’s leaving Congress at the end of the month and will not be seeking re-election in 2024.
“I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways. I know my work is only getting started,” McCarthy wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.
McCarthy promised to stay involved in Republican politics in the future.
“I will continue to recruit our country’s best and brightest to run for elected office,” he said. “The Republican Party is expanding every day, and I am committed to lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders.”
McCarthy’s announcement comes months after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) led a successful effort to remove him as speaker. Eight Republicans voted with every Democrat to oust him from the position.
McCarthy will depart Congress before the Feb. 13 special election to replace expelled Rep. George Santos, meaning the Republican House majority will get even smaller.
