Mike Gallagher Out Faster!

I got to get out of here before I hurt these fools.

Today, Ken Buck signs out for the night. He resigns from Congress. Colorado governor Jared Polis will order a special primary and special election to fill the remaining term.

It also damages Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and her attempt to run in the 4th Congressional District. Boebert who currently resides in the 3rd Congressional District now has a difficult decision. Polis confirmed he intends to hold that election on June 25, the same day as the Republican primary for the congressional district.

“Colorado Point of View” political analysts agree that the decision by Buck will negatively impact Boebert’s efforts to win the primary in June since she has said she will not be running in the Special Election.

“It hurts Boebert’s chances,” said Republican analyst Michael Fields. “I don’t think it hurts ‘em enough that she’ll lose.”

Fields said it gives candidates running in the Republican primary and the special election an advantage because they’re on the ballot twice.

Johnson's days are numbered.

Now another Republican resigns abruptly citing his frustration with House members showboating. He is tried of the House not getting anything done. He is sick of members like Boebert always embarrassing the party.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) said he was going to retire after he voted to not impeach Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Gallagher said that the time is now to leave Congress. Gov. Tony Evers will put forth a special election for the candidates. 

Whoever wins will fill the remaining term.

Gallagher’s departure before the end of his term in January is another blow to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Republicans, who have been struggling to govern and demonstrate stability in this Congress.

Two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News of Gallagher's plan to resign early Friday. The Wisconsin Republican then released a statement announcing that he will depart April 19.

Gallagher informed Johnson of his decision earlier this week. Johnson, in a post on X, praised Gallagher's "extraordinary work in the House" and for "courageously exposing the threat Beijing poses to the U.S."

His resignation could cause more headaches for House Republicans. 

When Gallagher leaves, the majority would further shrink to 217-213, meaning Republicans could only afford a single defection on any vote if Democrats vote together.

Gallagher’s decision to leave April 19 also means that there will not be a special election to fill his seat. Under Wisconsin state law, vacancies after the second Tuesday in April are filled in the general election, so Gallagher’s replacement will be decided in November and his seat will remain empty until January.

Greene and Gaetz are trying to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson.

A source close to Gallagher said the decision to leave was in the works and not related to anything happening in House lately. Gallagher has a young family that he and his wife hope to grow and the House schedule is not conducive to that, the source said.

Gallagher, 40, an Iraq War veteran, is the chairman of the select committee investigating the Chinese Communist Party, and serves on the Intelligence Committee. It’s highly unusual for a committee chairman to resign in the middle of the term.

But Gallagher, an institutionalist first elected to Congress in 2016, has grown frustrated with his own party. 

He is one of several top Republican chairmen who are not running for re-election in November following a tumultuous House session.

Earlier Friday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to oust Johnson from the speakership over his handling of funding the government, though no vote is scheduled yet. It follows a similar motion, made by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) that successfully toppled then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy last fall.

Meanwhile, shortly after the House passed its final government funding package for fiscal year 2024 on Friday, retiring Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) said she would step down as chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, setting off an early battle among Republicans to succeed her in the powerful post. Unlike Gallagher and Buck, Granger said she will serve out her House term, which ends in January.

In his statement, Gallagher said he worked closely with GOP leaders on the timing of his announcement — shortly after the House voted to avert a shutdown — and looks forward to Johnson naming a new China committee chairman.

"I will forever be proud of the work I did on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, chairing the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and chairing the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party," Gallagher said. "It has truly been an honor to serve in the House of Representatives."