After his ousting from House Speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reportedly is considering resigning from Congress.

Are the rats scurrying from a sinking ship?

POLITICO said it spoke with two people familiar with the matter.

From POLITICO:

Kevin McCarthy is considering resigning from the House before the end of his term, two people familiar with the matter told POLITICO.

The deposed former speaker has made clear he plans to stay at least through the speakership election that begins next week before ending his House career, these people said, in order to help the party steady itself after a seismic shakeup.

However, the outlet noted that McCarthy denied the reports about considering resigning from Congress.

“I’m still here finishing my job,” McCarthy reportedly told the outlet.

“No, I’m not resigning. I’m staying, so don’t worry,” he added.

“We’re going to keep the majority, I’m going to help the people I got here and we’re going to expand it further,” he added, according to POLITICO.

CBS News added:

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy denied reports on Friday that he’s thinking about resigning from Congress before his term concludes in 2025, after hardline Republicans and Democrats forced him out of the speaker’s chair earlier this week.

“I’m not resigning,” McCarthy said Friday.

McCarthy told reporters Friday that he will finish out his two-year term and run for reelection next year. On Friday, Politico reported McCarthy is considering resigning early, and CNN reported he is expected to resign sometime after the speaker’s race concludes.

An early departure from Congress would mean the California Republican won’t have to serve out the rest of his term as an ousted speaker who is now a rank-and-file member of Congress.

After Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz’s “motion to vacate” resolution passed earlier this week, McCarthy announced he would not try to run for speaker again. Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry became the speaker pro tempore, and will oversee speaker elections in the days or weeks ahead. So far, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise have announced their candidacies.

According to CNN, McCarthy “sent different signals in private conversations.”

Per CNN:

Earlier Friday, multiple sources familiar with McCarthy’s thinking told CNN that was expected to step down before the end of his term.

House Republicans are still reeling after McCarthy was ousted from the speakership in a historic vote. Following the vote, McCarthy opted not to run again for the gavel, setting off a race for a new speaker.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and GOP Rep. Jim Jordan have both launched bids to be the next speaker, though it is unclear if House Republicans will be able to coalesce around a candidate given the deep divisions within the conference.

After the House voted to oust McCarthy, the California Republican did not say whether he would remain in Congress. “I’ll look at that,” he said when asked at a press conference following the vote.

If McCarthy indeed resigns, only the Uniparty will miss him.

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