Ex-GOP congressman tries to save Democrats from losing redistricting war — but Hakeem Jeffries doesn't want his help



Rep. Kevin Kiley was elected as a Republican in 2022 to represent California's 3rd district in the U.S. Congress.

After the Golden State's Democratic gerrymander effectively reduced to nil his chances of getting re-elected with an "R" next to his name, Kiley filed to run as an independent in the nonpartisan primary for California's newly drawn 6th district.

'This arms race could create a new norm.'

"I've always seen my role as being an independent voice for our community, holding politicians in Sacramento and Washington accountable to serve my constituents. I answer to you, not party leaders," said Kiley, who had a 77.42% lifetime score in Turning Point Action's rating system.

On his way out the GOP door, the newly minted free agent complained about gerrymandering, noting that "both parties are complicit" and that "political division has become a serious problem for our country."

Kiley — one of the few casualties on the right of the redistricting war that Republicans are now winning in a big way thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Callais — is asking Democrats to help him pass a bill that would prohibit states from engaging in mid-cycle redistricting and changing their congressional maps more than once a decade.

The former Republican told Axios on Wednesday that he has written to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, asking the radical Democrat and his cronies to support a discharge petition that would force a vote on his ban.

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

"This arms race could create a new norm where maps are redrawn to gain a temporary advantage every two years," Kiley wrote to Jeffries. "The result will be chaos for our democracy: a weakening of representation, a further polarization of Congress, and a deepening of the distrust and division that threaten our country's future."

Some Democratic lawmakers who, like Kiley, are on tilt after having their districts redrawn, are receptive to the idea of a ban.

Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), for instance, said he'd sign on, noting, "Why wouldn't I? Both parties need to get behind ending this. It's gonna kill the democracy."

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D), whose Kansas City-based district lawmakers transformed last year into a GOP-leaning Missouri seat, is another desperate lawmaker supportive of the ban, stating that "of course" he would sign onto the discharge petition.

Jeffries — whose help Kiley acknowledged was critical to the petition's success — apparently has no interest in helping the independent with his crusade.

Christie Stephenson, a spokeswoman for Jeffries, told Axios, "Kevin Kiley's unserious legislation would supercharge partisan gerrymandering by Red states while putting Democratic-led ones at a serious disadvantage."

"Leader Jeffries has no plans to support it," Stephenson added.

This is at odds with Kiley's statement earlier this month, where he noted, "Minority Leader Jeffries has announced he supports my proposal to prohibit mid-decade redistricting."

Former Democratic Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (Texas), who passed away in 2024, introduced the same legislation to ban mid-cycle redistricting in the last Congress.

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GOP Rep Kevin Kiley, Doomed By Gavin Newsom’s Gerrymander, Throws Hail Mary To Save Career

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Rogue Republicans side with Democrats, revolting against Trump's key economic policy



The House of Representatives failed to protect President Donald Trump's tariffs, with three Republicans enabling any lawmaker to challenge his economic policy on the floor.

Republicans attempted to pass a rule to block Congress' ability to challenge Trump's tariff policies late Tuesday night. The GOP ultimately fell short, failing to pass the rule in a 214-217 vote after Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Kevin Kiley of California, and Don Bacon of Nebraska sided with Democrats.

'It’s time for Congress to reclaim that responsibility.'

Massie fired back at accusations that he voted simply to buck Trump, arguing that the vote was an attempt to "subvert the Constitution."

"My goal is to defend the Constitution and to represent the people," Massie said in a post on X. "Taxing authority is vested in the House of Representatives, not the Executive. The vote tonight was to subvert the Constitution and the 1976 National Emergencies Act by literally saying a day is not a day."

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Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Bacon, who has deviated from Trump in the past, also cited constitutional concerns with the vote.

"I don’t like putting the important work of the House on pause, but Congress needs to be able to debate on tariffs," Bacon said in a post on X. "Tariffs have been a 'net negative' for the economy and are a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are paying."

"Article I of the Constitution places authority over taxes and tariffs with Congress for a reason, but for too long, we have handed that authority to the executive branch. It’s time for Congress to reclaim that responsibility. I also oppose using the rules votes to legislate. I want the debate and the right to vote on tariffs."

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Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Although the vote failed, Trump allies like Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) continued to defend tariffs.

"This is life with a razor-thin majority as we have, and sometimes this happens," Johnson said on Fox News Wednesday. "We had three defections. ... I think it's a big mistake."

"I don't think we need to go down the road of trying to limit the president's power while he is in the midst of negotiating America First trade agreements with nations around the world."

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It’s Time to End Discrimination Against Homeschool Graduates

Homeschooling in the United States has transformed education for millions of families, offering tailored instruction and strong academic outcomes. Yet, despite this progress, homeschool graduates continue to face unnecessary barriers in accessing opportunities that their traditionally schooled peers take for granted. However, H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, sponsored by Rep. Mark Harris, […]

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House Republicans repeal burdensome Biden-era EV mandates: 'A major win for sanity'



House Republicans overwhelmingly voted to repeal one of former President Joe Biden's electric vehicle mandates, while Democrats continue to dig their heels in.

The resolution repealed California's electric vehicle mandate requiring the state to ban the sale of all gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The resolution ultimately passed the House in a 246-164 vote, with 35 Democrats joining 211 Republicans to repeal the EV mandate.

In total, 164 Democrats voted to maintain the mandate.

'Democrat[s'] EV mandates are a slap in the face to rural America.'

"The American people should have the freedom to choose their own cars and not be regulated by woke climate activists from the failed state of California," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) told Blaze News. "By repealing the Biden administration's radical EV mandates, House Republicans are continuing our efforts to roll back regulations that rob consumer choice from everyday Americans."

The mandate was ultimately struck down using the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to reverse regulations with a simple majority and presidential approval, avoiding the Senate filibuster's 60-vote threshold.

The House also passed a similar resolution Wednesday night that overturned another California regulation mandating the sale of zero-emissions trucks in the state. The resolution similarly passed along party lines in a 216-195 vote, with 213 Republicans and just three Democrats voting to repeal the mandate.

Overall, one Republican and 194 Democrats voted to keep the regulation.

"The House of Representatives just passed the Resolution I sponsored to reverse California’s EV mandate for trucks," Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley of California said in a post on X. "In a major win for sanity, it passed with bipartisan support."

"Democrat[s'] EV mandates are a slap in the face to rural America — pushed by urban elites who’ve never set foot on a farm," Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois said in a post on X. "Let Americans drive what works. Keep woke climate activists away from our trucks!"

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GOP Rep. Kiley Asks FBI Director Point-Blank If He Will Apologize For Targeting Parents At School Board Meetings

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Republican Kevin Kiley knocks out Democrat for US House seat in northeastern California, strengthening GOP House majority



Representative--elect Kevin Kiley has captured a highly coveted U.S. House seat in northeastern California, putting Democrats on the back foot and shoring up Republican strength in Washington, D.C.

The election

After two weeks of vote-counting, the Associated Press called the race for Kiley on Tuesday. Kiley received roughly 53% of the votes, leading his Democrat opponent, Kermit Jones, by over five points.

This is the second time this year that Kiley has beaten Jones, a fellow in former President Barack Obama's White House. When facing off against Kiley on June 7 in the nonpartisan primary race for the seat in U.S. House California District 3, Jones came up short.

The newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District seat had been occupied by a Democrat since 2012, but the people evidently wanted a change.

Kiley told Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle" that "the House of Representatives is the part of our government that is most responsive to public opinion. That's the way the framers designed it. That's the way our Constitution was designed. So by electing a new majority in the House, the American people have said, 'We need change."

Kiley added that he was excited to get to work "to deliver that change."

Kevin Kiley: Voters sent a signal that they are looking for change youtu.be

Kiley campaigned on:

  • attacking Congress' out-of-control spending;
  • reducing the tax burden on middle-income families and small business;
  • cutting red tape and reducing the regulatory burden;
  • opposing abortion except in cases of incest, rape, and when the mother's life is at risk;
  • toughening laws against violent and repeat offenders;
  • ending illegal immigration and opposing sanctuary city laws; and
  • recognizing that communist China is not a friend, but rather an American adversary to be taken seriously.

According to the Sacramento Bee, Kiley has also criticized the election counting system, which not only impacted his race but still affects other midterm races nationwide, weeks after Election Day.

The candidate

Kiley began his career as a high school teacher in inner-city Los Angeles. He went onto become an attorney. In 2016 he was elected to the California State Assembly.

The New York Times noted that Kiley's fierce criticism of Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom inspired Trump's confidence, along with that of a host of others.

Kiley told CalMatters last year, when supporting Newsom's recall, that "Newsom came into office and his top priority was simply to reward his top campaign donor, the California Teachers Association."

"We've seen that the education establishment in California is unwilling to serve students, and so I think we need a paradigmatic shift," said Kiley, who was formerly a teacher and adjunct professor.

According to CalMatters, Kiley introduced a resolution to end Newsom's emergency power and sued the governor over the constitutionality of a vote-by-mail executive order.

\u201cToday @J_GallagherAD3 and I took Gavin Newsom to court for overstepping his powers and won a Temporary Restraining Order. The Judge ordered the Governor\u2019s latest Exexutive Order suspended as a violation of the Constitution. To save costs, we represented ourselves.\u201d
— Kevin Kiley (@Kevin Kiley) 1591982375

Trump said in May, "No one has fought Gavin Newsom harder than Kevin. ... He doesn't wait for the fight, like the do-nothing RINOs who have watched California get absolutely destroyed by the radical maniacs in Sacramento."

When announcing that he would run for office again in 2024, Trump reiterated that Kiley is "fantastic."

The significance

With Representative-elect Kiley's victory, the GOP now has 220 seats in the House. While the midterm elections didn't bring with them the red wave some voters had anticipated, the Republican majority may nevertheless bring with it a significant undertow in the form of oversight and investigations.

Kiley told Newsmax that as soon as the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, "We are going to get to work right away to reverse these damaging Biden policies and to hold his administration accountable."

\u201cAfter a two-year train wreck, we can now move our country in a new direction.\u201d
— Kevin Kiley (@Kevin Kiley) 1668980948

When asked about his priorities in the House, Kiley said, "We need to get our economy back on track, we need to secure the border and reverse these disastrous open-border policies of the Biden administration, we need to get crime under control, and we need to stop the assault on parental rights."

\u201cCongress will investigate the Administration's "misuse of federal criminal and counterterrorism resources to target concerned parents at school board meetings."\u201d
— Kevin Kiley (@Kevin Kiley) 1669062842

Noting that the Republicans now have subpoena power, Kiley said, "We have the ability to bring Cabinet officials before the House of Representatives, before committees, make them answer questions under oath. We have the ability to do investigations ... so we can stop a lot of harmful policies from being enacted."

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A new candidate has also taken the lead in the race to replace Newsom if recalled