In a shocking move to many, Wisconsin Representative Mike Gallagher (R) has announced that he is stepping down early, leaving the House GOP with a slim majority.
The Wisconsin representative was a part of several committees in the House and was committed to defending U.S. security efforts.
“I will forever be proud of the work I did on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, chairing the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and chairing the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party,” said Rep. Gallagher. “It has truly been an honor to serve in the House of Representatives.”
According to a source close to Gallagher, the move is not motivated by the House’s recent antics. Instead, the move is stated to be inspired by the representative’s desire to spend more time with his young family.
Gallagher’s move will have major ramifications in the House. Because the congressman hails from Wisconsin, his seat will remain unfilled until November. Wisconsin state law says that vacancies filed after the second Tuesday in April can not be expeditiously filled. The seat’s replacement will be decided in November and will be filled in January.
Gallagher’s departure follows former Colorado Representative Ken Buck’s (R) departure from the House. Several Republicans have expressed frustration with the GOP’s turn toward more hardcore conservative policies that are in line with Donald Trump’s stances on issues.
With the Wisconsin representative leaving, the GOP House majority shrinks to 217-213. The super small majority would only allow Republicans to have a single defection on a vote.
The House GOP has been filled with dissension. Last year, the GOP group of dissenters known as the “Freedom Caucus” ousted former speaker Kevin McCarthy in an effort led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R).
Now, known troublemaker Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) has announced that she filed a motion to remove current Speaker Mike Johnson (R).
Rep. Johnson, who just worked with the House to pass a spending bill to avert a government shutdown, faced criticism from some conservatives for his use of bipartisanship and exclusion of many GOP inputs that would not have been passed by the House nor the Senate.
