On Wednesday, Kevin McCarthy, the ousted U.S. House Speaker, announced his decision to exit Congress at the year’s end, sparking concerns among fellow Republicans about the future of their slim and divided majority.

This development unfolds against the backdrop of Congress grappling with a series of crucial legislative matters, including the fiscal 2024 spending bills that must be approved by Jan. 19 to prevent a partial government shutdown.

The transition presents a fresh and challenging trial for McCarthy’s successor, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Reuters reported.

“I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways,” McCarthy, 58, wrote in a Wall Street Journal column.

“It often seems that the more Washington does, the worse America gets,” said McCarthy.

The exit of the ex-party leader and influential figure in campaign fundraising, who played a pivotal role in securing Republican control of the House in 2022, has the potential to impede the party’s aspirations of maintaining that majority in the upcoming year.

Written by B.C. Begley

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