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Trump-Endorsed Congressman Ditches Republican Party

Kiley announced that he is leaving the Republican Party and will seek reelection without a party affiliation.

Trump-Endorsed Congressman Ditches Republican Party
Image · Yahoo News

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Host credibilityYahoo News75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026

Credibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.

Republished with credit

Republished from The Daily Beast, with credit to the original publisher.

The Daily Beast71/100 HIGH

867 stories · 71–72 · updated Oct 10, 2026

This is The Daily Beast's own score, and this article is credited to The Daily Beast. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.

Yahoo Newsvia The Daily Beast
Mar 9, 2026
tl;dr

Rep. Kevin Kiley said he is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent and plans to run for reelection without a party affiliation. He cited frustration with partisanship and would not commit to being a reliable vote for House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Community verdict

22 VOTES
How does this story look for
Kevin Kiley I · CA-3
● OPEN

People in this story

SWIPE →
Kevin Kiley
I · CA-3

Representative leaving the Republican Party and running for reelection as an independent

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House whose support Kiley would not promise

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Kiley before his election to Congress

ALSO MENTIONED  Gavin Newsom, California governor whom Kiley had opposed in the state assembly

Part of a bigger story

18 OUTLETS
Kevin Kiley Leaves GOP to Run for Reelection as an Independent

Outlets agree Rep. Kevin Kiley announced he is leaving the Republican Party and becoming an independent as he seeks reelection. They also report he plans to keep caucusing with Republicans for the rest of his current term. The sides share a focus on the House majority’s implications, but differ in added emphasis. Left-leaning outlets emphasize the majority impact and, in some accounts, critical reactions to Kiley. Center outlets pair House arithmetic with his stated reasons and redistricting context, while one takes a more skeptical view of his reelection prospects. Right-leaning outlets foreground partisan gridlock and redistricting alongside uncertainty for the GOP majority.

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