All posts tagged "kevin kiley"

House Republican causes stir as he abruptly abandons GOP: 'He's hoping to fool you'

Reactions rolled in Monday after Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) announced that he would leave the Republican Party immediately and switch his party affiliation to independent this week, according to reports.

Kiley's move aims to secure his "longshot bid" for reelection in a Democratic-leaning district following redistricting in the Golden State last year that redrew the district lines in favor of Democratic candidates, Politico reported. He said he would continue to caucus with House Republicans, while also complaining about partisan politics.

“I will be the sole independent member of the House of Representatives,” Kiley told reporters Monday during a virtual press conference. “We’re going to be submitting the letter to the clerk today.”

Kiley's decision affects the tight margin held by Republicans in the House. He will be the sole independent in the House and join two other independent congressional leaders in the Senate — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Angus King (I-ME).

People voiced their thoughts and mocked Kiley's decision online:

"It's all for show. @KevinKileyCA is still backing Mike Johnson as Speaker, caucusing with the GOP, conceding their unpopular agenda and still going along with all their policies and insanity. He's operating as a MAGA Republican, and hoping to fool you all. Don't be," anti-Trump organization The Lincoln Project wrote on X.

"When 2026 got underway, there were 220 House Republicans. Then MTG resigned. Then Doug LaMalfa died unexpectedly. Now Kevin Kiley has left the GOP to become an independent, creating a 217-214-1 chamber," Steve Benen, Rachel Maddow Show producer, wrote on Bluesky.

"Kevin Kiley who is serving as the U.S. representative for California's 3rd congressional district has left the Republican party to become an Independent. Great, now we can all go back to not knowing who he is," internet personality and Substack writer Frank Frankly wrote on Bluesky.

"NEWS: Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley did the old party switcheroo, and just like that, Mike Johnson has one fewer reliable vote," Christopher Wiggins, politics and news editor for The Advocate, wrote on Bluesky.

"NEW: Rep. Kevin Kiley just announced that his decision to leave the Republican Party and register as an Independent will take effect immediately — further Mike Johnson's margins in the House," Kyle Griffin, MS NOW executive producer, wrote on Bluesky.

GOP rep slams own party after being told it's 'willing to sacrifice you'

A GOP member of Congress slammed his own party in an interview with The New York Times' "The Daily" podcast on Friday, responding to claims that "party leaders are willing to sacrifice you."

Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) was elected in 2022 in California's 3rd District and is openly frustrated with his party's handling of the government shutdown and how the House isn’t in session — but that's not all he's upset over.

He’s also against redistricting, which is now endangering his own seat in the House, and called it “incredibly destabilizing" especially when it happens mid-decade.

“I said from the moment this was on my radar that it shouldn’t be happening anywhere. I’m against it in Texas, I’m against it in California. It’s pure political opportunism,” Kiley said.

As a result of Texas redistricting, a demand President Donald Trump made in an effort to keep Republican control over the House, the move could result in Kiley getting drawn out of his own district in California as Gov. Gavin Newsom retaliates to Trump’s order to redistrict in Texas by responding in California.

Kiley still thinks he can win reelection, although his district might look different.

‘It sounds like your party leaders are willing to sacrifice you — in theory — for the party’s ongoing control of Congress and refusing to entertain the idea to introduce a bill that would stop that," host Michael Barbaro said.

“I don’t know what their motivations are, but their inaction is frustrating, certainly,” Kiley said.

Kiley is one of five Republicans in California "who are all but certain to lose their seats in the next midterm elections if voters grant final approval to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newly drawn congressional districts," according to The Times.

He thinks the Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) needs to bring the House back and has had private conversations with him about it.

"I don't know what his real reason is... I haven't gotten any explanation that makes sense to me," Kiley said.

'A good report?' GOP lawmaker stuns CNN's Berman over response to shrinking economy

A Republican lawmaker stunned CNN's John Berman when he referred to news that the economy shrunk by 3% due to President Donald Trump's machinations as "a good thing."

Berman presented Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) with Wednesday morning's news that the economy has gone into reverse.

"So, GDP down 0.3% in the first quarter. It was a growth rate of 2.4% in the final quarter of last year, the first contraction since 2022. What do you think this data is telling us?" Berman asked.

Kiley said he thought it was "natural" to have short-term disruption "when you have a lot of change."

"But, I think that when you dig deeper into the data, you see a foundation for medium- and longer-term growth," Kiley said.

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Berman continued, "This report doesn't even cover really the impacts of tariffs. The president's announcement wasn't until the beginning of April. People think that there could be even more headwinds in the second quarter there."

Kiley dodged the question of Trump's tariffs, instead, citing "the relaxation or the lower amount of government spending."

"And, so, that's actually a good thing, in some sense, as we're cutting waste, fraud and abuse. And Americans broadly agree that we need to reduce the size of government...So, those numbers, those kind of top-line numbers that you're citing are partially a reflection of that."

Kiley repeated that "when you dig deeper, you see an increase in exports, you see an increase in investment. And we have this huge runway now where we're going to be taking action very soon as a congress to extend the prior tax cuts and to provide new forms of tax relief, which is going to be an added fuel for investment and jobs."

Berman pushed back, "You keep saying, 'If you dig deeper, this looks okay.' Are you saying this is a good report?"

Kiley answered, "I'm saying that the signs are there for significant economic growth going forward, and I think that we have all the tools at our disposal and, and are on the track to do just that."

Watch the clip below via CNN or click here.