In a surprising announcement, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) revealed that he would be resigning from Congress prior to the completion of his term, further narrowing the already thin majority held by the Republican Party in the House. Gallagher, a respected four-term lawmaker known for his rising star status within the GOP, had previously declared that he would not seek reelection. However, he now intends to leave the House on April 19.

Gallagher expressed his collaboration with the House Republican leadership regarding his departure timeline, emphasizing his anticipation of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) appointing a replacement. This announcement follows the recent passage of the final fiscal year 2024 funding bill by the House, which concluded months of intense negotiations. It also came shortly after Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion to remove Speaker Johnson from his position.

With Gallagher's departure, House Republicans will be left with 217 members, compared to the Democrats' 213, leaving Speaker Johnson with a narrow margin of one vote for bills lacking Democratic support. The Wisconsin representative, as head of the House Select Committee on China, played a vital role in passing a bill requiring the sale of the Chinese-owned social media app, TikTok, or else it faces a ban in the United States.

Earlier this year, Gallagher garnered attention for being one of three Republicans who voted against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The resignation of Gallagher is the latest in a series of early departures from Congress. Just last week, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who had previously announced his retirement, informed that he would be leaving office before the end of his term. Friday marked his final day.

Additionally, several prominent committee heads have also made the decision to leave Congress, highlighting the toxicity that some believe exists in Capitol Hill. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), a 20-year veteran of Congress and current chair of the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, has declared her intention not to seek reelection. Committee leaders Reps. Kay Granger (R-Texas), who heads Appropriations, and Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), chair of the Financial Services panel, have also chosen not to run for another term.

Shortly after announcing his resignation, Gallagher expressed his frustrations with the careerism present in Congress, advocating for serving a limited time before returning to private life. According to Wisconsin election law, Gallagher's vacant seat, considered "solid Republican" by the Cook Political Report, may remain unfilled for the remainder of the year unless the vacancy occurs before the first Tuesday in April of an election year. Nonetheless, the House's vote margins could still fluctuate as vacancies in both parties are filled through special elections.