WASHINGTON — Rep. Kevin Kiley, who ditched the GOP earlier this month, left the door open to caucusing with the Democrats sooner or later sooner or later as Republicans grapple with a fragile majority.
Kiley (I-Calif.), who’s trying to regain his committee assignments following his switcheroo, has dedicated to caucusing with Republicans till the tip of his present time period — however is vast open as to what he’ll do after that.
“For the rest of this time period, sure,” Kiley mentioned on SiriusXM’s “Straight Shooter with Stephen A” on Wednesday.
“As a result of that’s the manner the foundations are arrange proper now, is that primarily to be a totally functioning member of the Home, it’s a must to caucus with one of many two events,” he added. “And since that’s how I used to be elected at the start of this time period, I feel that is smart.”
Republicans at present have 217 Home seats in addition to Kiley’s in comparison with the Democrats’ 214 seats. Three stay vacant.
“I feel that if you happen to’re going to be impartial, then you definitely shouldn’t prejudge these items, proper?” Kiley mentioned when requested about leaving open the opportunity of caucusing with Democrats.
“With regards to the brand new time period, who I’m going to caucus with … who I’m going to vote for for speaker — I feel I’ll have a look at it on the time and say, all proper, what will be finest for the parents that I characterize,” he added. “I’ll make that call on the time.”
Committee assignments, the place members of Congress do the majority of their legislative work, are decided by get together steering committees and, in a number of circumstances, get together management.
Kiley is the primary impartial within the Home since 2019, when former Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan left the GOP. The Senate has two impartial lawmakers who caucus with Democrats — Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine.
“In apply, it really is a mirrored image of the way in which I’ve usually approached my job, is that, no matter my get together label I’ve all the time mentioned I’m going to be an impartial voice for my district,” Kiley mentioned of his transfer to be impartial.
“So I feel that this new designation is solely a mirrored image of that philosophy that I’ve had all alongside. And hopefully, possibly it’ll encourage some others to take the identical method.”
There’s a threat that the GOP might lose its ultra-slim majority earlier than the midterms. President Trump let it slip this week that Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) had been at risk of dying by June on account of his terminal prognosis. A current medical operation, nevertheless, has given the Florida Republican “a brand new lease on life,” in keeping with the president.
Kiley’s ditching of the Republican Get together comes within the context of Democratic redistricting in California geared toward offsetting modifications to the congressional map in Texas to spice up Republicans.
The mid-decade redistricting effort in California compelled Kiley, who at present represents the Golden State’s Third Congressional District, into the Sixth District, which he filed for simply final week.
Within the newly reconfigured Sixth District, Kiley is poised to face a bruising reelection battle with Democrats like Richard Pan and Thien Ho vying for it.
Kiley had additionally clashed with GOP management repeatedly, together with along with his criticism of the choice to maintain the Home out of session throughout the 43-day-long authorities shutdown.
