Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announces retirement from Congress at year’s end

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced his plan to leave Congress after 16 years in office following his historic ousting from the top seat of power in the House.

Mr. McCarthy’s notice comes as speculation has swirled over whether he would leave or run for another term in the House. The mainstay in GOP leadership wrote of his retirement from Washington in The Wall Street Journal, where he recounted a series of career victories.

The Californian referenced his last-minute attempt to keep the government open in September, spurring the process that led to his removal as the 55th speaker of the House.

“No matter the odds, or personal cost, we did the right thing. That may seem out of fashion in Washington these days, but delivering results for the American people is still celebrated across the country,” Mr. McCarthy said.

He continued, “It is in this spirit that I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways. I know my work is only getting started.”