Who Will Replace Kevin McCarthy?

Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy of California announced on Wednesday that he will leave the House by the end of the year.

In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, McCarthy said he hopes to "serve America in new ways," by "lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders."

McCarthy was House speaker from January until early October, when the GOP led his ouster. Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson took over in late October. McCarthy has served in the House for 17 years.

Newsweek reached out to McCarthy via phone for comment.

There will be a special election held for McCarthy's seat. So far, MAGA Republican David Giglio and Democrat John Burrows have announced their candidacy for the seat in California's 20th District.

Giglio, who lost a congressional bid for in 2022, is running with a platform to put "the needs of the American people first." He is endorsed by two staunch allies of former President Donald Trump, retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, a former White House national security adviser, and Roger Stone, a political consultant to Trump's 2026 campaign.

Giglio's team told Newsweek via email on Wednesday: "David Giglio announced he was running in CD 20 against Kevin McCarthy because he's a principled conservative outsider willing to take sledgehammer to the status quo in Washington. Giglio is not a career politician, so he was never expecting to be 'anointed' as the handpicked replacement to preserve the swamp in Washington, D.C.

"That's why Giglio will earn the support of Republican voters who are truly interested in a conservative who will pursue President Trump's America First agenda. Meanwhile, the field of his opportunist-opponents are now scrambling in the wake of McCarthy's announcement to pursuit of their own self-interests instead of any real commitment to conservative principles."

Burrows is campaigning on his advocacy for "families who have been overlooked" by McCarthy.

According to his campaign website, Burrows "has a deep understanding of the local economy and is committed to working with lawmakers from both parties to deliver results for the hardworking families of the Central Valley."

In a post on X, Burrows reacted to the news of McCarthy leaving office, writing: "Kevin McCarthy is RETIRING in Congress after suffering a humiliating defeat as Speaker of the House.

"Now, there's a special election to replace him, and with your help, I'll be the Democrat to do it. Let's flip this seat and the House majority!"

Newsweek reached out to Giglio and Burrows via email for comment.

When speaking of his time in office, McCarthy said that he passed legislation "to secure the border, achieve energy independence, reduce crime, hold government accountable and establish a Parents' Bills of Rights," among other initiatives.

McCarthy made it a point that "no matter the odds, or personal cost, we did the right thing," on Capitol Hill.

"That may seem out of fashion in Washington these days, but delivering results for the American people is still celebrated across the country," he said. "It is in this spirit that I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year."

McCarthy's announcement comes amid former Representative Liz Cheney's book release. Cheney pointed a finger at McCarthy in Oath and Honor for standing by former President Donald Trump after the riot on January 6, 2021, where Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's 2020 victory amid claims of voter fraud.

Cheney described a conversation she had with McCarthy about a visit he made to Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on January 28, 2021. McCarthy said that he went to visit Trump after his staff called him and said that he wasn't eating. "Yeah, he's really depressed," McCarthy told Cheney at the time.

In her book, Cheney wrote that she was shocked to see of photograph of McCarthy and Trump smiling together after the former president, in her eyes, incited the violence on January 6.

"Not even Kevin McCarthy could be this craven, I thought," she wrote. "I was wrong."

Update 12/7/23, 9:10 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Giglio's team.