Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) said he is open to caucusing with House Democrats next year if he wins a third term in November.
Earlier this month, Kiley announced he had left the GOP and become an independent as he runs for reelection. The congressman will be listed as an independent on the ballot come November, but for the rest of the year, he will caucus with Republicans.
Speaking with Stephen A. Smith on his radio show, Kiley said he may consider changing his caucus affiliation next year and described the kind of lawmaker he wants to see as the next House speaker.
“When it comes to the new term, who I’m going to caucus with, what the speaker’s — who I’m going to vote for speaker — I think I’ll look at it at the time and say, all right, what is going to be best for the folks that I represent,” he said on SiriusXM’s Straight Shooter with Stephen A. on Wednesday.
“And you know, I think a lot’s going to happen between now and the next election,” he added. “I think that I’ll have by that point almost a year of having been an independent in the House. And so I’ll make that decision at the time.”
Kiley noted he wanted to remain a part of the House GOP caucus for the remainder of his second term “because that’s how I was elected.”
Kiley reportedly did not inform House GOP leaders of his independent reelection bid beforehand. Asked whether that was a “calculated strategic move” on his part, Kiley said he didn’t think so.
“I don’t know that it was calculated. It was simply, this was a matter between me and my constituents,” the congressman told Smith. “And so I did inform folks in D.C. after I made that decision. But I made an independent decision as to how I thought I could continue to best represent my district and folks in my area. But I did tell the speaker and others about it afterwards.”
KEVIN KILEY TO DROP GOP LABEL IMMEDIATELY AND BECOME INDEPENDENT
After switching parties, Kiley lost his spot on certain House committees. He is seeking to rejoin those panels through an expected official process, this time as an independent.
His decision to change his affiliation to independent further narrows the House GOP’s razor-thin majority as Democrats seek to regain control of the lower chamber this election cycle.