Rep. Kevin Kiley (California) said Monday that he is immediately changing his party affiliation on the House’s official roster from Republican to independent, further complicating the ability of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to manage the Republican Conference. Last week, Kiley said he would seek reelection as an independent.
During a news conference, Kiley said he will continue to caucus with House Republicans “for the remainder of this term” but pledged to be “an independent voice.” It remains to be seen what practical effect his move will have, but it narrows the number of registered Republicans in the chamber to 217. Democrats hold 214 seats, and there are three vacancies. Kiley will be the only independent.
The two-term congressman attributed his decision to redistricting efforts in California, which resulted in his district becoming more blue. Because of redistricting, Rep. Ami Bera (D), who currently represents California’s 6th District, will run for reelection in the 3rd District against Kiley.
“I reached a decision that, since gerrymandering seeks to elevate partisanship above everything else in our politics and governance, seeks to make it the sum and substance of our politics, then the best way to counter gerrymandering and its insidious impacts on democracy is simply to take partisanship out of the equation,” Kiley said.
Kiley, a moderate, has occasionally broken with Johnson in key matters, making him an unreliable vote for a speaker struggling with a razor-thin majority.
Last month, for example, Kiley was among six Republicans who voted with Democrats to end President Donald Trump’s stepped-up tariffs on Canada, rebuking the president in the first of what could be several congressional challenges to his trade policies.
Spokespeople for Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kiley’s decision.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Kiley noted that he did not give House GOP leaders a heads-up before ending his party membership.
Though he will be identified as an independent from California, Kiley said he will continue caucusing with Republicans because of “administrative purposes.” Committee assignments in the House run through party leadership. To remain in his committees, Kiley must be attached to one of the two parties.
Kiley told reporters, however, that his new designation “reflects the way that I have always approached my role as a representative.”
“I’ve always said I’ll be an independent voice for our district,” he said.
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