61st House Speaker, R- John Boehner
The House speaker who helped force a shutdown of the federal government in 2011, stunned lawmakers in Washington last month when he announced he was stepping down at the end of October. John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio who has held the coveted Speaker’s position since 2011, said he will be resigning from Congress.
Boehner released a statement about his resignation.
“It was my plan to only serve as speaker until the end of last year, but I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican conference and the House. It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the speakership and my seat in Congress on Oct. 30,” Boehner said.
Professor Ishante Hunter, an American national government professor at Florida A&M University, said she expects a a change in the dynamics in the House in the wake of Boehner’s resignation.
“Clearly, radical Republicans are taking over Congress. What is going to happen is that analysts are saying the next speaker will have cater to that far-right voice,” Hunter said.
Professor Hunter also said she wouldn’t be surprised to see a radicalization in the Republican Party when a new House speaker is selected.
“I think overall, the Republican Party will be a strong far-right party and appeal to those voters with those sensibilities,” she said.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the No. 2 most powerful member of the chamber, has expressed interest in succeeding Boehner. McCarthy represents California’s 23rd District.