'Wow!' Strategist airs theory behind Republican's 'carefully timed' resignation

The House GOP majority is hanging by a thread — and political analysts are taking notice.

On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was dealt yet another blow when Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) became the latest of multiple GOP lawmakers to announce he would not complete his term, instead saying he will resign effective on April 19.

This comes after Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), another lawmaker who announced his upcoming resignation, thumbed his nose at GOP leadership on his way out the door by joining Democrats' in voting on aid to Ukraine.

Experts were quick to note that Johnson is running out of votes to do anything — which is not ideal as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced a motion to vacate the chair — the exact same tactic that led to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy being run out of his job.

And one said the April 19 date wasn't randomly chosen.

"WOW! Like Buck, Mike Gallagher carefully timed his departure," theorized congressional strategist Aaron Fritschner. "Under Wisconsin law, congressional vacancies occurring 'prior to the 2nd Tuesday in April' in an election year get filled on a faster timeline.

"An April 19th resignation will keep Gallagher's seat vacant until November."

"House GOP majority is becoming invisibly thin," wrote CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane on X. "Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) announces he'll resign on April 19; Gallagher, 40, chairs a House select committee."

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"WOW, another House Republican, Mike Gallagher, is LEAVING the House on April 19, which will leave the GOP with an even smaller one-vote margin!" wrote Democratic strategist Majid Padellan, known by the alias Brooklyn Dad Defiant. "Another one bites the dust, and the insanity of MAGA Republicans is completely to blame!"

"In the old days people tended to serve out their terms more," posted Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall. "What sticks out to me tho is that when someone left early it was usually for a family issue or they had a new gig that required starting right away. With Buck & Gallagher it seems to be just f--k this."