![\"Rep.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SAC_5038_RepKevinKiley_HA_260217.JPG\" "\\"Rep.")
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Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, speaks during a Sacramento Bee subscriber-only town hall meeting at the historic Loomis Train Depot in Placer County on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n
HECTOR AMEZCUA<\/p>\n
hamezcua@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
Rep. Kevin Kiley is set to become sole independent in the House.<\/p>\n
Kiley, a Republican, said on Monday morning that he would ask the clerk in the U.S. House of Representatives to officially designate him an independent for the reminder of his term. The move comes days after Kiley filed for re-election as a \u201cNo Party Preference\u201d and will make him one of only three independent members in Congress. The two other members are in the Senate.<\/p>\n
He attributed the change to his frustration with \u201cpartisanship\u201d and the ways it is \u201cweakening the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe redistricting war and the gerrymandering epidemic that has spread across the country and an upended representation in our state is kind of the ultimate manifestation of that, but I see it manifest itself day in and day out in Washington, D.C., and I think it\u2019s actually worse than a lot of people even realize,\u201d Kiley, 41, said at virtual news conference.<\/p>\n
His decision is the latest fallout of Prop 50, which redrew the state\u2019s congressional map in an effort to oust him and other Republicans. Kiley, who unsuccessfully pleaded with his party to stop mid-decade redistricting, was left with a district that has leaned heavily Democratic in recent elections.<\/p>\n
Kiley said he would continue caucusing with the Republican Party, per the House administrative rules, but would approach the role as an independent. He added he did not talk to Republican leadership about his decision though he connected with Speaker Mike Johnson over the weekend about the \u201cadministrative part of caucusing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did not commit to voting with the Republican Party on procedural moves for the reminder of the term and noted his recent votes that broke with GOP leadership. He stated a general desire to procedurally vote in favor of bringing bills to the House floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have to consider everyone on its own merits,\u201d Kiley said. \u201cBut I\u2019m all for giving people the opportunity to vote their conscience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiley had provided signals of a shift to the political center in the past few months.<\/p>\n
Last fall, he spent weeks voicing frustration after Johnson refused to bring forward floor legislation to prohibit mid-decade redistricting across the country. In December, Kiley continued his criticism of Johnson during Congress discussions over health care subsidies. At one point, he accused Johnson of lying about negotiations. Kiley, 41, furthered his defection last month by siding with Democrats to block a procedural maneuver that shielded Trump\u2019s tariff agenda from votes.<\/p>\n
Last week, Kiley announced he would run in the left-leaning 6th District which encompasses parts of West Sacramento, Natomas, East Sacramento and Citrus Heights, Roseville and Rocklin. Several political experts have said Kiley must appeal to a broader base of voters to increase his slim chances of winning.<\/p>\n
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