In a surprising turn of events, Wisconsin GOP Representative Mike Gallagher declared on Saturday that he will not be seeking re-election, adding to the growing list of Republicans stepping away from Congress. This announcement comes amidst a challenging period for the House GOP as they strive to maintain their slim majority in the upcoming November elections.
Gallagher has recently been under fire from within his own party for voting against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. His decision has led to threats of a primary challenge from some Republican figures. In his statement, Gallagher expressed, “Electoral politics was never meant to be a lifelong career. Believe me, Congress is not the place to age. Therefore, with a heavy heart, I have decided not to run for re-election.”
The Wisconsin Republican has staunchly defended his decision to vote against Mayorkas’ impeachment and has publicly criticized the House GOP leadership for pushing the significant vote to the floor without certainty of its passage. The House is anticipated to hold another vote on Mayorkas’ impeachment as early as next week, following Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s return from cancer treatments.
Gallagher’s announcement marks a significant shift for the 39-year-old, who last year had declared his intention to seek re-election to Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. This decision came after he declined a Senate run, disappointing Republicans who believed he could secure a crucial Senate seat in the battleground state. Gallagher first won his seat in the 8th Congressional District, including Green Bay, in 2016 and was re-elected for his fourth term in 2022 with an impressive 72% of the vote. The district, a solid Republican stronghold, was carried by former President Donald Trump over Joe Biden by approximately 15 points in the 2020 presidential election.
Gallagher, who chairs the House Select Committee on China known for its bipartisan efforts, joins the growing list of committee chairs opting for retirement. This follows the announcement by House Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington on Thursday that she would not seek re-election. Over a dozen House Republicans have announced their intention to leave Congress at the end of their term.
Currently, House Republicans hold 219 seats compared to the Democrats’ 212, with four vacancies. To regain control of the House, Democrats need a net gain of five seats – a number that could decrease to four if they secure the vacant New York seat of expelled former Rep. George Santos in the upcoming Tuesday’s special election.
Contributors to this report include CNN’s Simone Pathe, Molly English Annie Grayer, and Manu Raju.