California Representative Kevin Kiley has officially left the Republican Party, making him the first Independent in the lower chamber since 2019. Kiley, now an Independent from California, cited his frustrations with GOP leadership and redistricting as reasons for his decision.
Although Kiley will still caucus with Republicans for administrative purposes, his switch in party affiliation poses a challenge to the GOP's already narrow control of the House. He emphasized the need to counter gerrymandering and its negative effects on democracy by removing partisanship from the equation.
While Kiley intends to caucus with the GOP for committee assignments, he noted that he may not always align with House Speaker Mike Johnson. The House now consists of 217 Republicans, 214 Democrats, and one Independent, with the last Independent being former Michigan Representative Justin Amash.
Kiley's party switch coincides with redistricting in California, which has allowed the Democratic-led state to adjust its congressional maps in response to redistricting in Texas. This redistricting has resulted in Kiley, who represents California's 3rd Congressional District, moving to the 6th District, which he filed for recently.
The newly redrawn 6th District is expected to be competitive, with Democrats Richard Pan and Thien Ho also vying for it. Kiley has criticized gerrymandering as a threat to democracy. Prior to leaving the GOP, Kiley had opposed party leadership on significant votes, including advocating for a bipartisan solution to end a government shutdown and voting against a measure aimed at challenging President Trump's tariffs.
Kiley did not inform Johnson before announcing his departure from the Republican Party, but they did have a conversation following the announcement. Johnson's majority has faced challenges due to the departure of former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and the passing of Representative Doug LaMalfa. Additionally, Representative Jim Baird's family tragedy and Representative Tony Gonzales' cheating scandal have added to the GOP's troubles.
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