LOS ANGELES (TND) — Rep. Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday said he has decided to resign from his congressional seat in California.
The Republican shared the news on social media in a video announcement.
McCarthy noted he plans to resign at the end of the year. He didn't specify a date, nor did he talk about his next career move.
It is time to pursue my passion in a new arena," he said in the footage. "While I'll be parting the House at the end of this year, I will never ever give up fighting for this country that I love so much."The video also features McCarthy highlighting his 17 years as a member of Congress.
As the son of a firefighter from Bakersfield, my story is the story of America. For me, every moment came with a great deal of devotion and responsibility," he noted in a post on X, which is the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.Serving you in Congress and as the 55th Speaker of the House has been my greatest honor," he added.The news comes about two months after he was ousted as Speaker of the House.
His announcement capped a stunning end for the one-time deli owner, who ascended through state and national politics to become second in line to the presidency before a contingent of hard-right conservatives engineered his removal in October.
McCarthy is the only speaker in history to be voted out of the job.
He didn't mention the outer in his video, but he expressed gratitude to his voters and everyone who supported him during his tenure.
"To all those who have supported me through the years, especially our constituents, thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said in the video. "We did our part. And when the stakes were the highest, we rose to the challenge. We were willing to risk it all, no matter the odds, no matter the personal cost. Simply put, we did the right thing. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America."
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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