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Posted on 03/10/2026 7:58:16 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Rep. Kevin Kiley has announced he is leaving the Republican Party effective immediately, making him the only independent member of the US House of Representatives.
The move comes as the California lawmaker is facing a tough bid for reelection in the wake of redistricting in the state led by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The decision by the congressman will officially shrink Speaker Mike Johnson’s already razor-thin GOP majority. Kiley, however, will still caucus with Republicans in the chamber, meaning the switch in his party affiliation may not have a significant impact on vote math in the House.
Pressed on if he’ll continue to be a reliable vote for Johnson, who is operating with the narrowest House margin in decades, Kiley noted that he has already crossed party lines, including 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 told reporters on Monday.
Kiley said that he has already changed his registration in California to “no party preference” and has asked the House clerk to change how he is identified in the official roster.
The House has been operating with 218 Republicans, including Kiley, and 214 Democrats, which means Johnson has been able to afford only afford a single defection on party-line votes.
The California lawmaker, who has broken with his party on several key issues in his two terms in Congress, said he’ll continue to caucus with House Republicans for the remainder of this term, given that committee assignments are linked to party 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,
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
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Sounds like he’s trying to do his best to survive in a redrawn California district. Can’t blame him for that. I hope he’s successful in November’s election and returns to continue caucusing with the Republicans as an independent.
But MOSTLY I hope the Republicans are not FOOLISH enough to stand up a Republican to run in his district to merely succeed in splitting the non-‘RAT vote and guarantee a DemocRAT wins. But it’s not unusual for Republicans to do stupid, self-defeating things.
The fallout of letting the rats get away with stealing 20-25 House in 24 continues.
The Republican Party left me [and I mean LEFT].
He’s a good guy. My Congressman and I met him at his office last year.
This is what happens when politicians cease to represent their constituents and become “career politicians”.
He has no chance of being independent in California unless he can keep the republican vote. The state Assembly consists of 60 Democrats and 20 Republicans, while the Senate is composed of 30 Democrats and 10 Republicans. He will not grow votes by bailing on the republicans and changing his affiliation. All he’s doing is presenting a facade of not being republican for his already existing voters. He better look for a political job not attached to voting desires.
wy69
Where does he ‘represent’?
He’s a US Congressman in the House…. not at the state level legislature.
He’s running for the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District which covers parts of Sacramento County including (for we Rush Limbaugh fans) Rio Linda.
I hope he makes it.
‘Independent’ =Liberal...make no mistake
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