Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican who has served as a loyal lieutenant in the House leadership and temporarily served as House speaker after the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, announced his retirement Tuesday.
The departure of Mr. McHenry, chairman of the Financial Services Committee, adds to a growing list of House retirements in both parties. His reliably Republican district stretching from the Appalachian Mountains to the suburbs of Charlotte means his departure isn’t likely to jeopardize the GOP’s chances of holding on to its slim House majority in 2024.
“This is not a decision I come to lightly,” Mr. McHenry, 48, said in a statement. “But I believe there is a season for everything, and — for me — this season has come to an end.”
Mr. McHenry’s exit from the House signals another step away from the Young Gun Republican leadership era led by former Speakers Paul D. Ryan and Kevin McCarthy.
Mr. McHenry, who plans to finish his term, will conclude 20 years in Congress as he runs into the six-year limit as the top Republican on the Financial Services Committee.
Mr. McHenry was a chief ally to Mr. McCarthy, who was voted out of the speaker’s chair by the party’s far-right faction this year.
After Mr. McCarthy’s ouster, Mr. McHenry rose to national prominence in his role as temporary House speaker. He was assigned the role by Mr. McCarthy to serve in the event of an emergency, and after the Californian’s ouster Mr. McHenry controlled the gavel for 22 days while the House GOP fought over a replacement.
The Republicans’ choice of conservative Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana pushed the GOP conference further away from the leadership team that fostered Mr. McHenry’s rise in the House.
Mr. McHenry, known for sporting a bow tie, worked his way into the GOP leadership under Speaker John Boehner, helping wrangle votes as chief deputy whip through the end of Mr. Ryan’s term as speaker. He then won the coveted position atop the financial service panel.
“This is a real loss for the North Carolina delegation,” said GOP strategist and former House Republican leadership aide Doug Heye.
He called Mr. McHenry “the adult in the room, always.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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