Republican Representative Debbie Lesko from Arizona (R-AZ) declared her intention to step down on Tuesday afternoon during the voting process to select a new House Speaker. Lesko, who is in her third term and a staunch advocate of former President Trump, cited the dysfunction in Washington, D.C. as one of the contributing factors for her retirement.
“I have decided not to run for reelection in 2024. I want to spend more time with my husband, my 94-year-old mother, my three children, and my five grandchildren. Spending, on average, three weeks out of every month away from my family, and traveling back and forth to Washington, D.C almost every weekend is difficult. Right now, Washington, D.C. is broken; it is hard to get anything done. I want to thank all of the people who have supported me throughout the years. Please know that my office and I will continue to passionately serve our constituents and our nation until the end of my term in January 2025,” Lesko remarked.
A statement from Congresswoman Debbie Lesko ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ziBheGVDbz
— Debbie Lesko (@DebbieLesko) October 17, 2023
Earlier this month, McCarthy was removed from his role as Speaker following a motion to vacate the chair filed by Matt Gaetz. The House has been without a Speaker for a period of two weeks. In the interim, Patrick McHenry is assuming the responsibilities of Acting Speaker.
On Tuesday, Jim Jordan was unsuccessful in his initial bid for the Speakership as 20 Republican Representatives cast their votes for alternative candidates. The second round of the House Speaker floor vote is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 11 am Eastern Time, as Chairman Jordan did not reach the required 217 votes to secure the position of Speaker.
