California Rep. Kevin Kiley announced on Monday he is switching his congressional party designation from Republican to independent, formalizing his party switch as he pursues a long-shot bid to win reelection in a Democratic-leaning district.
Kiley, whose district was redrawn in Democrats’ favor last year, confirmed to reporters on Monday that he is officially filing to run in California’s 6th District on a “no party preference” ballot line, and is seeking to have his party affiliation changed to independent immediately.
“I’m asking the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives to have that reflected in the official roster,” Kiley said.
House Republicans have an incredibly tight majority in the lower chamber — but the move may not dramatically affect House Speaker Mike Johnson’s narrow House majority.
