McCarthy declares intention to leave Congress at year's end

Dec. 6—Rep. Kevin McCarthy has decided not to run for reelection following his unprecedented ouster as House Speaker, ending the Bakersfield Republican's run as a senior GOP figure who raised huge sums of money for the party only to fall afoul of its hard-right flank.

The eight-term congressman announced his decision in an Op-Ed piece in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday morning, exactly two months after he told The Californian he planned to run for reelection. McCarthy could not be reached for comment Wednesday and did not respond to requests earlier in the week for comment on his political future.

The announcement brings to a close a 16-year run that began as one of Congress' self-proclaimed "Young Guns" to a nine-month stint as the House Speaker. McCarthy was removed from the role on Oct. 3, following a successful vote to oust him by eight Republicans and the Democratic Party. To conservatives, McCarthy exemplified all the dressings of the American Dream, from his rise from a Bakersfield deli counter to second in line to the presidency.

McCarthy's office will be vacated at the end of December. He leaves behind a fractured House that faces a looming threat of government shutdown.

In speaking with McCarthy, Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, said the longtime Bakersfield congressman will remain engaged in conservative politics.

"McCarthy's not given up on us," Valadao said. "The comments I've gotten from him are that he's still going to be very active and supportive as much as he possibly can."

While not unsurprising, the news comes at a frustrating time for House Republicans. With the expulsion of George Santos, R-N.Y., and more than a dozen announced retirements, the GOP is clutching a slim majority.

Valadao, who represents the adjacent 22nd District, said by phone Wednesday that he's "frustrated" by McCarthy's decision.

The two have worked together since 2010, when Valadao first entered the California Assembly. Three years later, the two were reunited in D.C., as U.S. congressmen charged with representing neighboring districts.

Despite their closeness, Valadao said he "never pressed to know one way or the other" whether McCarthy would resign, though he admitted he's developed "a feeling" over the past few weeks that his colleague was considering it.

"(McCarthy) has done everything he possibly could, and worked harder than anyone else here in Congress," Valadao said. "And I think he left it all on the field."

The decision arrives just days before McCarthy's deadline to declare whether he would run for a ninth term. McCarthy's declaration that he will step down at the end of this year raised the prospect of a special election for someone to finish out his term representing California's 20th Congressional District.

Democrats have made some progress in chipping away at his political support but never managed to come close to his dominance in the polls, and only recently has a fellow Republican made a credible effort to unseat him.

Republican David Giglio of Clovis had already filed papers to challenge McCarthy in the 20th District. The Madera sports trading card shop owner, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, recently secured an endorsement from Michael Flynn, who briefly served as national security adviser in the Trump administration.

McCarthy, 58, ascended in January to become second in line to the presidency after a political career born of serving as a staff member to former Bakersfield Rep. Bill Thomas. The son of a firefighter and product of Bakersfield High School, McCarthy was for a time owner of his own sandwich shop.

In his opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, McCarthy took credit for twice leading Republicans to House majorities, saying that he "remained cheerfully persistent when elected speaker because I knew what we could accomplish."

After listing Republicans' recent legislative achievements, not all of which were passed by the U.S. Senate, he said the caucus "did the right thing" no matter the personal cost.

"It is in this spirit that I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways," he wrote before adding that he will continue working to get promising candidates to run for elected office.

"The Republican Party is expanding every day, and I am committed to lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders," he wrote.

On Wednesday, statements of gratitude came from fellow Republicans, including his own protege, Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, who in an email statement described McCarthy as someone who served the valley, state and nation "with distinction."

"Through our decades of friendship, I've seen his commitment and his sacrifice — always optimistic and unafraid of the hard work necessary to create more opportunities for all Americans," Fong wrote. "I am grateful to Kevin for his leadership, mentorship and dedication; and I look forward to seeing his continued service to the people of the Central Valley and our country."

Added state Sen. Shannon Grove, a fellow Bakersfield Republican: "Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been a tremendous advocate for the Central Valley, the state of California and our country. He is a patriot, a loyal Republican, and most of all a dear friend."

California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said the 20th District is "better off today" because of McCarthy. She highlighted the congressman's "commonsense, conservative" agenda, and strengths in "recruitment and fundraising."

"No one has done more to help Republicans get elected across this country," Patterson wrote. "And his ceaseless efforts enabled us to pick up two separate GOP House majorities, including five seat pickups here in California."

It was unclear Wednesday how exactly the process to replace McCarthy will proceed.

When asked whether Gov. Gavin Newsom will hold a special election to find a replacement, administration Communications Director Erin Mellon said the governor is "required to set a date for the special election 14 days after the seat is vacated."

"However, if the seat is vacated during the last year of the term, after the nomination period has closed, then a special election is not required," Mellon wrote. "We will have more to share once we have specifics from Rep. McCarthy about his planned departure."

With the nominations deadline on Dec. 13, local analysts say they expect an announcement soon.

Christian Romo, who chairs the Kern Democratic Party, anticipates a cascade effect to ripple through Kern, as assembly members, supervisors, dilettantes and the general rank and file will vie for a promotion amid the political shift.

"There's a lot of people who could throw their name in now, because the gates are open now that McCarthy, being this all-powerful political animal for nearly the past two decades, is leaving," Romo said.

This could include, he said, Fong and Grove both running for the seat, as well as former Rep. Connie Conway entering the special election.

GOP consultant Cathy Abernathy, who has worked closely with McCarthy and other Bakersfield Republican politicians, declined to say who may be best positioned to succeed him. But she did express hope it will be a candidate from Kern County, which has held the southern Central Valley's congressional seat for more than 50 years.

"I know several good people," Abernathy said. "We have a lot of strong elected Republicans."

On the Democrats' side, Fresno-based John Burrows is currently the front-runner. He won the state party's endorsement last month over Marisa Wood and Andy Morales. But in light of the news, Romo hopes to hold a "special endorsement meeting" soon after a special election is announced where delegates will select someone for both the special election and the 2024 race.

Robin Walters, a member of the Central Committee of Democratic Women of Kern, viewed McCarthy's planned exit as an opportunity for her party.

"I think it'll be an opportunity for Democrats to continue to convey the message of what we have done and what we will continue to do," she said, "which is (to) continue to fight for working people and veterans."

Giglio, a Connecticut native who placed fourth with 14.8% of the vote when he ran in the 2022 primary election for California's 13th Congressional District, filed his paperwork to run for the seat on Sunday, according to the Federal Election Commission website.

Beyond a track record of historic fundraising, McCarthy has rarely seen a contest for his seat since he first ran in 2007. He routed Wood in 2022 with more than two-thirds of the vote, and with more than $40 million in fundraising, according to the National Republican Congressional Committee.

With his departure at the end of the month, Romo said it will be a "political earthquake in Kern County." Going forward, he expects McCarthy will enter the lobbyist or consulting realm, where he will focus on recruiting candidates "nationwide for different seats."

When asked, Valadao said he will not jump over to the 20th Congressional District, known to be a much safer seat with a stronger Republican base. He did not say who he'd want chosen for the position, only that it should be someone who prioritizes "Central Valley" issues, such as water and energy.

"We'll see how the 20th plays out," Valadao said. "It'll be interesting for at least the South Valley to be the senior member."

The 20th Congressional District is home to communities in Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern counties.