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GOP lawmaker says he’s leaving the Republican Party and will serve as an independent
Good evening my friends. It is clear from the early returns that Proposition 50 will pass in California. Well, I believe the conduct of this election from the rush timing to the suspension of voter protections fell well short of the ideals we ought to strive for in our democratic process. Nevertheless, the people of California have spoken. In spite of tonight’s result, I remain heartened that California voters still support independent redistricting. *** poll just *** few days ago found 72% support our citizens redistricting commission. Indeed, while Prop 50’s passage brings back gerrymandering in California, it also adopts *** policy supporting independent redistricting nationwide. I will answer this call of the voters and work across party lines to find *** national solution to the age old plague of gerrymandering and in particular to the more recent affliction of mid-decade gerrymandering. In fact, I’ve already introduced legislation to that effect, and it has strong bipartisan support. The reason I opposed Prop 50, even as I also oppose what’s happened in other states, is because I believe fighting fire with fire burns everything down. With California’s new gerrymander, the redistricting arms race has no end in sight. North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana for Republicans, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia for Democrats, and to what end? It’s *** race to the bottom that degrades democracy everywhere. It’s both *** symptom of our country’s political divisions and *** troubling new trend that is sure to make that division even worse. Tonight, more than ever, I believe excessive partisanship is one of the biggest challenges facing our country. The tenor of political discourse keeps getting sharper. Gridlock continues to get more extreme. It’s gotten so bad that for over *** month, the government has been shut down because Congress can’t reach the most basic of agreements with people now losing their food assistance as *** result. When I first ran for Congress 3 years ago, I pledged to be an independent voice for our district, to fight for all Californians and to work towards overcoming our country’s political divisions. I believe that mission is even more important today. That is why I am committed to earning the support of voters for another term in the US House of Representatives next year. Politicians can change the lines on *** map, but they can’t tell you how to vote in *** democracy, the power to choose our representatives always rests with you, the voter. Thank you to everyone who participated in today’s election. It is an honor to represent California in Congress, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
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Rep. Kevin Kiley of California said Monday that he’s dropping his Republican Party affiliation and will serve as an independent, a change he said will take place immediately.The two-term congressman faces a tough reelection battle following the redrawing of the state’s congressional boundaries. On Friday, he announced he would be running in a Democratic-leaning district without listing a party affiliation next to his name.Kiley followed that decision up on Monday by telling reporters that he was asking the House clerk to reflect his change to independent in the House’s official roster, though he will still caucus with Republicans to maintain his committee assignments.”So I will be the sole independent member of the House of Representatives,” Politico quoted Kiley as saying.With Kiley’s move, Republicans will have a 217-214 majority in the House, with one independent. The last independent to serve in the House was Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, who dropped his Republican affiliation in 2019.Kiley had looked at an array of options after his district’s boundaries were dramatically changed last year. In recent weeks, he was studying whether to run against fellow Republican Tom McClintock in a Republican stronghold or to take his chance in a Democratic-leading district focused in the Sacramento area. He opted for the latter and will be running in the state’s 6th Congressional District.Kiley’s predicament is an example of how the redistricting war that began in Texas, at President Donald Trump’s urging, and drew a swift counter response from Democrats in California, has left some incumbents scrambling to salvage their political careers.
Rep. Kevin Kiley of California said Monday that he’s dropping his Republican Party affiliation and will serve as an independent, a change he said will take place immediately.
The two-term congressman faces a tough reelection battle following the redrawing of the state’s congressional boundaries. On Friday, he announced he would be running in a Democratic-leaning district without listing a party affiliation next to his name.
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Kiley followed that decision up on Monday by telling reporters that he was asking the House clerk to reflect his change to independent in the House’s official roster, though he will still caucus with Republicans to maintain his committee assignments.
“So I will be the sole independent member of the House of Representatives,” Politico quoted Kiley as saying.
With Kiley’s move, Republicans will have a 217-214 majority in the House, with one independent. The last independent to serve in the House was Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, who dropped his Republican affiliation in 2019.
Kiley had looked at an array of options after his district’s boundaries were dramatically changed last year. In recent weeks, he was studying whether to run against fellow Republican Tom McClintock in a Republican stronghold or to take his chance in a Democratic-leading district focused in the Sacramento area. He opted for the latter and will be running in the state’s 6th Congressional District.
Kiley’s predicament is an example of how the redistricting war that began in Texas, at President Donald Trump’s urging, and drew a swift counter response from Democrats in California, has left some incumbents scrambling to salvage their political careers.
