Rep. Kevin Kiley has introduced he is leaving the Republican Party efficient instantly, making him the solely independent member of the US House of Representatives.
The transfer comes as the California lawmaker is dealing with a tough bid for reelection in the wake of redistricting in the state led by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The choice by the congressman will formally shrink Speaker Mike Johnson’s already razor-thin GOP majority. Kiley, nevertheless, will nonetheless caucus with Republicans in the chamber, which means the swap in his social gathering affiliation could not have a major influence on vote math in the House.
Pressed on if he’ll proceed to be a dependable vote for Johnson, who is working with the narrowest House margin in many years, Kiley famous that he has already crossed social gathering strains, together with on votes to rein in the president’s tariff authorities.
“I approach, you know, every vote with, you know, a mind towards how it’s going to impact the folks that I represent,” he informed reporters on Monday.
Kiley stated that he has already modified his registration in California to “no party preference” and has requested the House clerk to change how he is recognized in the official roster.
The House has been working with 218 Republicans, together with Kiley, and 214 Democrats, which implies Johnson has been ready to afford only afford a single defection on party-line votes.
The California lawmaker, who has damaged along with his social gathering on a number of key points in his two phrases in Congress, stated he’ll proceed to caucus with House Republicans for the the rest of this time period, on condition that committee assignments are linked to social gathering affiliation.
“I will remain caucusing with the Republicans … for those administrative purposes, but in terms of the way that I approach my role here. I am an independent, and as I have been throughout my time here, I’ll be an independent voice fighting for our district,” he stated.
He stated he spoke with Johnson over the weekend about his intentions to proceed to caucus with the House GOP, however that he had made his choice with out enter from both social gathering’s management.
Asked if he plans to change the social gathering he caucuses with subsequent time period if he’s reelected this fall, Kiley responded, “I’m going to do whatever is serves my constituents and so you know that’s a decision that I’ll make at the time.”
Kiley has launched laws to prohibit mid-decade redistricting nationwide.
“I have been very strongly opposed to this redistricting war – this epidemic of gerrymandering – across the country, ” he stated. “I think it’s a terrible thing for democracy.”