Rep. Kevin Kiley says he is leaving the Republican Party and will serve in Congress as an independent.
The California lawmaker announced the decision Monday and said the change takes effect immediately. Kiley also said he has asked the House clerk to update his party affiliation in the official roster of the United States House of Representatives.
“I will be the sole independent member of the House of Representatives,” Kiley told reporters.
Despite the change, Kiley said he will continue working with Republicans and plans to caucus with them in order to keep his committee assignments.
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His decision does not significantly change the balance of power in the House. Republicans still hold a narrow majority with 217 seats, while Democrats have 214 seats, with Kiley now listed as an independent.
Kiley is a two-term congressman representing California’s 3rd Congressional District. His political situation changed after the state approved new congressional maps, forcing several lawmakers to rethink their reelection plans.
Last week, he revealed he would run for reelection in a Democratic leaning district without listing a party label on the ballot. Monday’s announcement confirmed he will now officially leave the Republican Party.
The move puts him in rare territory in the modern House.
The last member to serve as an independent was Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party in 2019.
Kiley said the decision was influenced by the ongoing national fight over redistricting.
Lawmakers in both Republican and Democratic controlled states have been redrawing congressional maps in an effort to gain an advantage ahead of upcoming elections. The conflict has become especially intense in states like Texas and California.
Republicans in Texas recently approved maps designed to flip several House seats. California Democrats responded by approving their own redrawn map that could add multiple Democratic seats.
Kiley said he is frustrated with the growing focus on partisan advantage.
“I reached the decision that, since gerrymandering seeks to elevate partisanship above everything else in our politics and governance — seeks to make it the sum and substance of our politics — then the best way to counter gerrymandering and its insidious impacts on democracy is simply to take partisanship out of the equation,” he said.
Under California’s new map, Kiley plans to run in the newly drawn 6th Congressional District. The district currently leans Democratic and is represented by Ami Bera, who is expected to run in a different district under the new boundaries.
Kiley said running as an independent may appeal to voters who are frustrated with both parties.
“The appropriate posture as an independent is to say I’m going to do whatever serves my constituents,” Kiley said. “That’s a decision I’ll make at the time.”
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
