The Republican Party’s control of the U.S. House of Representatives took another blow Friday when Wisconsin lawmaker Mike Gallagher announced he’s leaving Congress next month.
Gallagher’s departure means GOP legislation without Democratic support will fall short if just one Republican isn’t on board.
The 40-year-old congressman was expected to complete his fourth term in January 2025.
His departure comes on a tumultuous day that began with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filing to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, who took office in October after far-right Republicans voted to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy from that seat after nine months of service.
Meanwhile, Colorado Republican Ken Buck — citing “bickering and nonsense” — announced earlier this month his last day in Congress would be Friday. He too was expected to serve through the end of the year.
Gallagher, a former Marine from Green Bay, Wisc., joined the House of Representatives in 2017. He serves on the House Armed Services Subcommittee and is Chairman of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.
“Four terms serving Northeast Wisconsin in Congress has been the honor of a lifetime and strengthened my conviction that America is the greatest country in the history of the world,” Gallagher said is a statement released Friday.
He plans to stay on the job through April 19.
