News/Commentary

After saving Mayorkas’ hide, Mike Gallagher will not seek reelection: ‘Congress is no place to grow old’

February 11, 2024 | | Print Article

After blocking Republicans’ attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) announced on Saturday that he will not seek reelection in 2024.

“Eight years ago, when I first ran for Congress, I promised to treat my time in office as a high-intensity deployment,” Gallagher said in a statement posted to X. “Through my bipartisan work on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, chairing the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and chairing the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, we’ve accomplished more on this deployment than I could have ever imagined.”

“But the Framers intended citizens to serve in Congress for a season and then return to their private lives,” he continued. “Electoral politics was never supposed to be a career and, trust me, Congress is no place to grow old. And so, with a heavy heart, I have decided not to run for re-election.


Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Gallagher said he plans to enter the private sector and spend more time with his family.

“I really just feel like I’ve accomplished much more than I even thought I could when I set out, and I firmly don’t believe that the best use for the next chapter of my career is staying in Congress for another decade,” he said.

“Even though my title may change, my job may change, my mission is always going to remain the same,” Gallagher vowed. “My mission is to prevent World War III. I’ve dedicated myself to restoring conventional deterrence in order to prevent a war with China, and so whatever I do next will be an extension of that mission.”

Foreign policy and congressional reform have been the center of Gallagher’s focus since he was first elected to Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District in 2016, according to The Sentinel.

ADVERTISEMENT

“If I didn’t think I could not only maintain, but also enhance, my influence on U.S. foreign policy and the future of defense policy in particular,” Gallagher told the outlet, “I wouldn’t be leaving.”

After his vote to save Mayorkas, many conservatives hope the congressional doors don’t smack his “RINO” butt on the way out.

“Shut up RINO,” commanded Florida congressional candidate Anthony Sabatini.

“I’m glad you’re quitting – we don’t have time for weak cowards while we’re trying to save this country,” Catturd told Gallagher.

“Good,” said another user. “Get the FO.”

ADVERTISEMENT

According to conservative commentator Mike Cernovich, Gallagher can look forward to a “nice payday” after his “No vote” on Mayorkas.

“There’s no justification for your No vote on impeaching Mayorkas,” Cernovich told the exiting rep. “Hide all you want behind fancy words. I read the Federalist papers too.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“What are you being blackmailed with?” he demanded to know.

“So you are going to SCREW AMERICA AND QUIT,” fumed one X user. “YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE USMC!”

ADVERTISEMENT
Melissa Fine
Latest posts by Melissa Fine (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles