In the wake of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s resignation last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a special election to fill the vacant seat. The election is scheduled for May 21, with the primary set for March 19.
McCarthy, who represented California’s 20th Congressional District, announced his decision to step down in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on December 6, and formally resigned on December 31, as reported by CNN. The race to fill McCarthy’s seat, which he comfortably won in 2022, could be crucial for the House Republicans’ legislative agenda, given their increasingly slim majority.
The Republicans began the new year with a narrow majority of just 220 seats over the Democrats’ 213, following McCarthy’s resignation and the expulsion of ex-Rep. George Santos last year. This slim margin means the House GOP can afford only a few party-line defections.
The majority is further threatened by the impending resignation of Ohio GOP Rep. Bill Johnson, who will leave his post on January 21 to serve as president of Youngstown State University. Additionally, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise will be working remotely until February as he undergoes a stem cell transplant to treat a rare form of blood cancer diagnosed in August 2023.
McCarthy, who served in the House for 17 years, many of them in leadership roles, became House Speaker last year after a historic 15 rounds of voting. However, his tenure was short-lived, lasting just nine months. He was ousted by the right flank of his party, who were displeased with his decision to put a stopgap spending bill on the floor with Democratic support. This marked the first time a House Speaker was removed from the position.
In his Wall Street Journal op-ed, McCarthy reflected on his journey, stating, “I never could have imagined the journey when I first threw my hat into the ring. I go knowing I left it all on the field—as always, with a smile on my face. And looking back, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
McCarthy has not ruled out the possibility of joining a potential Trump administration, stating in a Fox News interview last month, “I will help whether I’m in it or whether I’m out. I want the country to be successful.”
Reporting by CNN’s Jack Forrest, Melanie Zanona, and Haley Talbot contributed to this report.