Intermediary Speaker Between McCarthy and Johnson Says He’s Done with Congress

Francis Chung | Politico

Patrick McHenry, Republican Congressman and ex-Speaker pro tempore, announced he would not be seeking reelection at the end of his term, joining an ever-increasing number of retiring incumbents.

McHenry, a relatively obscure Republican representing North Carolina’s 10th district, was catapulted to national prominence back in October when a majority of the House of Representatives voted to eject Kevin McCarthy from the Speakership.

House rules empower Speakers of the House to designate someone to serve as the House’s presiding officer in the event of the Speaker’s absence or removal. McCarthy’s ejection revealed McHenry had been the first name on his so-called “succession list.”

Thus, for most of the month of October, McHenry was the House’s presiding officer. His first act in this role was to conclude the floor session in which his friend McCarthy was ousted—and in a moment of visible rage which went viral, McHenry struck the gavel with extraordinary force.

Clearly furious with House Democrats and empowered to do little else—as the Speaker pro tempore lacks much of the Speaker’s authority—McHenry ordered two former Democratic leaders to vacate their esteemed secondary private offices in the Capitol building to accommodate Republicans.

Those two leaders were Stony Hoyer, former Democratic whip, and Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House.

Though some flirted with enhancing McHenry’s authority when it became apparent that finding McCarthy’s formal successor would take considerable time as a government shutdown approached, these plans never came to fruition and McHenry never sought the Speakership himself.

His stint as presiding officer concluded on October 25th with the ascension of Mike Johnson.

McHenry did not offer specific reasons for his retirement beyond the usual platitudes. 

“I will be retiring from Congress at the end of my current term. This is not a decision I come to lightly, but I believe there is a season for everything and—for me—this season has come to an end,” his official statement began, before declaring gratitude to family, friends, and mentors. 

He concluded with a vague, “I look forward to what the next season brings for my family and me.”