Republican Mike Gallagher to leave US House in April

Republican U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher will step down from Congress on April 19. his office said on Friday, a move that will narrow Republicans’ already razor-thin majority.

Gallagher, who chairs the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, had already said he would not be running for re-election in November. But his decision to leave Congress early means the seat will be vacant for a time before the next election.

The Republicans currently hold a 219-213 House majority. However, Republican Representative Ken Buck is due to step down on Friday.

When Gallagher steps down, that will narrow the majority further to 217-213, meaning that Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one vote in order to pass legislation if Democrats remain united in opposition.

More…