Gallagher Leaving House Next Month

Rep.Mike Gallagher (R-WI) the 40 year old former Marine Intelligence officer with a PhD in international relations will leave the House of Representatives after the Easter Recess.

 "I've worked closely with House Republican Leadership on this timeline and look forward to seeing Speaker Johnson appoint a new chair to carry out the important mission of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party," his office said in a statement.

In his statement last month announcing his leaving at the end of the year Mr. Gallagher said he would focus on bringing some of the findings of his committee to legislative fruition.   He now appears to be giving up..

Gallagher has found himself at odds with mainstream Republicans, angering his caucus last month by refusing to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 

The GOP was looking to oust Mayorkas as a way to punish the Biden administration over its handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, but the House’s first impeachment attempt fell just one vote short in February after Gallagher and two other Republicans refused to support the action. They argued that Republicans were misusing impeachment

When Gallagher steps down, the Republican majority will be  217-213, meaning that Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one vote in order to pass legislation if Democrats remain united in opposition.