Congressman Kevin Kiley (R) attends House Judiciary Committee field hearing on New York City violent crimes at Javits Federal Building in New York City on April 17, 2023. (Photo credit: lev radin / Shutterstock)
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) announced on Friday that he has filed to run for re-election as an independent — effectively leaving the Republican Party, at least for his election campaign, after voters dismantled his district in the Proposition 50 redistricting in California.
In his announcement, Kiley slammed California Democrats for putting him in an untenable position.
"Gerrymandering is a plague on democracy, one that Gavin Newsom has brought back to California. But there’s a way we can fight back and protect our democracy from his partisan games: by removing partisanship from the equation," wrote Kiley in a post to X. 'Today, I filed for reelection as 'No Party Preference.' This means I will not have a party affiliation on the ballot or as an officeholder. That’s how it already is with most offices in our state: mayors, city councilors, school board members, county supervisors, sheriffs, and DAs are all nonpartisan."
"As an elected representative, I’ve always seen my role as being an independent voice for our community, holding politicians in Sacramento and Washington accountable to serve my constituents," he continued. "I answer to you, not party leaders. That’s the kind of representation I believe the newly-drawn Sixth District deserves."
"If there is one thing Americans agree on, it is that political division has become a serious problem for our country," wrote Kiley. "We are also living in a moment of dramatic transformation, where technological change could bring incredible opportunities along with unfamiliar risks and dislocations. The ordinary rituals of partisan politics are simply inadequate in these extraordinary times – are simply incapable of meeting this generational challenge. Our ability to work as one team, serving all Americans, is now more important than ever."
Proposition 50 was passed by voters in California, in retaliation for a mid-decade gerrymander passed by Republicans in Texas at the direction of President Donald Trump. Kiley has proposed a bill to ban all mid-decade redistricting not ordered by a court, which House Republicans have taken no action on.