Rep. Mike Gallagher to leave Congress in April, exiting before the end of his term
MADISON – U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher will leave Congress next month instead of serving the remainder of his term, the four-term congressman said Friday.
Gallagher announced in February he would not seek reelection in the fall in the 8th Congressional District, citing a desire to enter the private sector and spend more time with his family.
On Friday, Gallagher said he is moving up his departure to April 19 but did not explain why. The Green Bay Republican is one of nearly four dozen House members leaving this year and, by leaving mid-term, House Speaker Mike Johnson now has a one-member majority.
"I’ve worked closely with House Republican leadership on this timeline and look forward to seeing Speaker Johnson appoint a new chair to carry out the important mission of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party," Gallagher said in a statement on Friday. "My office will continue to operate and provide constituent services to the Eighth District for the remainder of the term."
Gallagher said his time in the U.S. House "has been the honor of a lifetime and strengthened my conviction that America is the greatest country in the history of the world."
Gallagher, 39, was first elected to Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District in 2016 and quickly made foreign policy and attempts at congressional reform his focus. The Marine veteran and intelligence officer has argued for term limits.
The Green Bay Republican in his eight years in Congress established himself as one of Capitol Hill’s top national security and foreign policy hawks.
Gallagher’s departure leaves open his safely Republican northeastern Wisconsin seat. Republicans have about a 16-point edge in the largely rural 8th District, and Gallagher had won each reelection handily, by no fewer than 25 points.
His seat will still likely be filled this fall. State law requires a special election to be held to fill a vacancy in Wisconsin's congressional offices if the vacancy occurs before the second Tuesday in April in the year of a general election, which is April 9. Because Gallagher is resigning after that date, the vacancy may be filled in the August and November primary and general elections.
State Sen. Andre Jacque and former state Senate President and Lt. Governor candidate Roger Roth, both Republicans are running to replace Gallagher.
Molly Beck can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mike Gallagher to leave Congress in April, exiting before term ends
