Apparently Rep. Nathan Deal (R., Ga.) thinks he can help his gubernatorial campaign by being known as “the House Republican who helped pass Obamacare.” If he resigns, as rumored, the Democrats will only need 216* for a majority.
Moments ago, he made it official:
U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) said Monday morning he will resign from Congress to “devote my full energies to the campaign for governor.”
Deal is one of seven Republicans seeking the GOP nomination for governor. He will resign from the U.S. House on March 8.
Deal, whose departure apparently voids a U.S. House ethics investigation into his business dealing with the state, announced his resignation at the Gainesville Civic Center before a crowd of about 100 supporters, who applauded his remarks.
It’s been noted that this resignation cancels an impending House Ethics Committee investigation. Somehow, I doubt this sudden announcement will put that issue to rest.
UPDATE: Lest you had any thoughts of the GOP losing this seat, Deal represented an R+28 district, where John McCain carried 75 percent of the vote in 2008.
ANOTHER UPDATE: There are 435 members, with vacancies in the seats formerly occupied by Robert Wexler of Florida, John Murtha of Pennsylvania, Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, and now Deal. So when Deal officially resigns, there will be 431 seats, and a majority would be 216 seats, not 217 as I originally wrote.