Rep. Mike Gallagher’s Early Resignation to Reduce GOP’s House Majority

Republican representative Mike Gallagher, widely known for his stance against the Chinese government, has announced his resignation from the House. Slated to step down on April 19, his departure would make the Republican majority extremely thin, with 217 seats against the Democrats’ 213. This would make voting along party lines risky, as losing more than one vote could compromise the majority. Rep. Gallagher had previously announced he would not be seeking reelection.

A former Marine and native of Green Bay, Gallagher has served northeastern Wisconsin since 2017. His main focus last year was leading a newly-formed House committee aimed at countering China, defining the U.S. and China’s relationship as a crucial factor in shaping 21st-century life. His resignation will have significant ramifications, as there will be no special election for his seat; instead, replacements will be selected through a general election, as per Wisconsin law.

Several candidates have shown interest in filling Gallagher’s seat in the eighth Congressional District of Wisconsin, including Republican state senator, André Jacque, and former state senator, Roger Roth. The district leans heavily Republican, but the Wisconsin Democratic Party has voiced plans to “fight hard” for the seat. Gallagher’s resignation was described by the Democratic Party as highlighting the GOP’s proclivity towards creating chaos.

Gallagher, once seen as a rising GOP star, had contemplated a Senate run earlier this year against Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin. He decided against it in June, preferring to focus on countering China through his committee work and expressing plans to run for a fifth term in the House. Notably, Gallagher led a successful push for a House bill barring popular app TikTok nationwide unless its China-based ownership changed, citing it as a potential national security issue.

However, Gallagher’s views haven’t always been in sync with his party. His refusal to support the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last month caused discord within the GOP, who sought Mayorkas’ impeachment over the handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. Following a failed impeachment attempt by a single vote, Gallagher announced his resignation from the House.