Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is resigning from Congress and will leave at the end of this year, he announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Wednesday.

The highly anticipated decision comes two months after his unprecedented ouster from the speakership. No House speaker had ever before been ousted through the passage of a resolution to remove them.

McCarthy was elected as speaker in January after a historic stalemate that involved 15 rounds of voting over five days. It was the longest speaker contest in 164 years.

McCarthy and his future wife, Judy, pose for a photo at the top of the US Capitol circa 1987. McCarthy served on the staff of US Rep. Bill Thomas from 1987-2002. He started as an intern while attending California State University, Bakersfield.
McCarthy and his future wife, Judy, pose for a photo at the top of the US Capitol circa 1987. McCarthy served on the staff of US Rep. Bill Thomas from 1987-2002. He started as an intern while attending California State University, Bakersfield.
From Kevin McCarthy/Twitter
McCarthy, left, meets with California Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, and other legislative leaders in 2003. McCarthy was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002.
McCarthy, left, meets with California Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, and other legislative leaders in 2003. McCarthy was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002.
John Decker/Pool/Getty Images
McCarthy, as minority leader of the California State Assembly, talks to reporters in Sacramento, California, in March 2004.
McCarthy, as minority leader of the California State Assembly, talks to reporters in Sacramento, California, in March 2004.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP
McCarthy and California state Sen. Dick Ackerman wheel a cappuccino machine into Gov. Schwarzenegger's office in July 2004. This was after Democratic state Sen. John Burton, who in the past had delivered freshly brewed coffee to his meetings with Schwarzenegger, announced that he would withhold the services of his coffee maker because Schwarzenegger called his political opponents "girlie men."
McCarthy and California state Sen. Dick Ackerman wheel a cappuccino machine into Gov. Schwarzenegger's office in July 2004. This was after Democratic state Sen. John Burton, who in the past had delivered freshly brewed coffee to his meetings with Schwarzenegger, announced that he would withhold the services of his coffee maker because Schwarzenegger called his political opponents "girlie men."
Steve Yeater/AP
McCarthy — bottom row, third from left —poses with other newly elected US House members in 2006. McCarthy succeeded his former boss, Bill Thomas, who had retired.
McCarthy — bottom row, third from left —poses with other newly elected US House members in 2006. McCarthy succeeded his former boss, Bill Thomas, who had retired.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Kevin McCarthy poses for a portrait on Capitol Hill in 2007.
Kevin McCarthy poses for a portrait on Capitol Hill in 2007.
Chuck Kennedy/MCT/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
McCarthy listens to protesters on his way to the House Chamber, where he voted against a financial bailout package in September 2008.
McCarthy listens to protesters on his way to the House Chamber, where he voted against a financial bailout package in September 2008.
Lauren Victoria Burke/AP
McCarthy, center, attends a news conference in 2010 with House Minority Leader John Boehner, left, and Republican Conference Chairman (and future vice president) Mike Pence. They were unveiling "A Pledge to America," a governing agenda devised by House Republicans for the 111th Congress. McCarthy at the time was the GOP's chief deputy whip.
McCarthy, center, attends a news conference in 2010 with House Minority Leader John Boehner, left, and Republican Conference Chairman (and future vice president) Mike Pence. They were unveiling "A Pledge to America," a governing agenda devised by House Republicans for the 111th Congress. McCarthy at the time was the GOP's chief deputy whip.
Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images
McCarthy, as House majority whip, joins other Republicans at a news conference in March 2011.
McCarthy, as House majority whip, joins other Republicans at a news conference in March 2011.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
McCarthy sits with Israeli President Shimon Peres during a meeting in Jerusalem in August 2011.
McCarthy sits with Israeli President Shimon Peres during a meeting in Jerusalem in August 2011.
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
McCarthy and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor brief reporters at the Capitol in September 2011. McCarthy would later succeed Cantor as majority leader in 2014.
McCarthy and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor brief reporters at the Capitol in September 2011. McCarthy would later succeed Cantor as majority leader in 2014.
Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images
McCarthy, left, arrives for a Republican Conference meeting in 2013.
McCarthy, left, arrives for a Republican Conference meeting in 2013.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
McCarthy and his wife, Judy, enter a House Republican caucus vote in 2015.
McCarthy and his wife, Judy, enter a House Republican caucus vote in 2015.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
From left, US Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi participate in a "first nail ceremony" kicking off the construction of an inauguration platform at the Capitol in 2016.
From left, US Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi participate in a "first nail ceremony" kicking off the construction of an inauguration platform at the Capitol in 2016.
Yuri Gripas/Reuters
McCarthy, left, shares a laugh with US Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz as President Donald Trump signs a NASA appropriations bill in March 2017.
McCarthy, left, shares a laugh with US Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz as President Donald Trump signs a NASA appropriations bill in March 2017.
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Redux
Trump rests his hands on the shoulders of Ryan and McCarthy as Republican leaders celebrated the House's passage of the American Health Care Act in May 2017. The bill failed to make it through the Senate.
Trump rests his hands on the shoulders of Ryan and McCarthy as Republican leaders celebrated the House's passage of the American Health Care Act in May 2017. The bill failed to make it through the Senate.
Stephen Crowley/The New York Times/Redux
Pelosi, the new House speaker, is handed the gavel by McCarthy, the new House minority leader, at the start of the 116th Congress in January 2019.
Pelosi, the new House speaker, is handed the gavel by McCarthy, the new House minority leader, at the start of the 116th Congress in January 2019.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
McCarthy leads a news conference at the Capitol in October 2019, after the House voted on a resolution outlining the rules for the next phase of Trump's first impeachment inquiry.
McCarthy leads a news conference at the Capitol in October 2019, after the House voted on a resolution outlining the rules for the next phase of Trump's first impeachment inquiry.
T.J. Kirkpatrick/The New York Times/Redux
McCarthy trails Trump after Air Force One landed in Maryland in 2020.
McCarthy trails Trump after Air Force One landed in Maryland in 2020.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
McCarthy speaks during a reconvened joint session of Congress after the Capitol had been breached by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021.
McCarthy speaks during a reconvened joint session of Congress after the Capitol had been breached by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021.
Amanda Voisard/Pool/Getty Images
McCarthy speaks to the press as Republican lawmakers toured the US-Mexico border in March 2021.
McCarthy speaks to the press as Republican lawmakers toured the US-Mexico border in March 2021.
Paul Ratje/Reuters
McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell address reporters after attending an Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden in May 2021. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with congressional leadership to try to find common ground on issues.
McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell address reporters after attending an Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden in May 2021. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with congressional leadership to try to find common ground on issues.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
McCarthy holds his weekly news conference at the Capitol in July 2021.
McCarthy holds his weekly news conference at the Capitol in July 2021.
Stefani Reynolds/The New York Times/Redux
McCarthy and Pelosi attend an event on Capitol Hill in July 2022.
McCarthy and Pelosi attend an event on Capitol Hill in July 2022.
Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times/Redux
An audio recording of McCarthy is played in October 2022 during a hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack. "Let me be very clear to you and I have been very clear to the President. He bears responsibility for his words and actions. No if, ands or buts," McCarthy told House Republicans on January 11, 2021, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F04%2F22%2Fpolitics%2Ftrump-january-6-responsibility-book" target="_blank">according to the audio obtained by CNN</a>. "I asked him personally today, does he hold responsibility for what happened? Does he feel bad about what happened? He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened. And he needs to acknowledge that."
An audio recording of McCarthy is played in October 2022 during a hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack. "Let me be very clear to you and I have been very clear to the President. He bears responsibility for his words and actions. No if, ands or buts," McCarthy told House Republicans on January 11, 2021, according to the audio obtained by CNN. "I asked him personally today, does he hold responsibility for what happened? Does he feel bad about what happened? He told me he does have some responsibility for what happened. And he needs to acknowledge that."
Alex Wong/Getty Images
McCarthy stands between US Rep. Mayra Flores, left, Republican congressional candidate Monica De La Cruz, center, and Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as a mariachi band plays at an event in McAllen, Texas, in November 2022. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with CNN two days before the midterm elections, McCarthy <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F11%2F07%2Fpolitics%2Fkevin-mccarthy-interview-border-security" target="_blank">outlined his plans for power</a>.
McCarthy stands between US Rep. Mayra Flores, left, Republican congressional candidate Monica De La Cruz, center, and Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as a mariachi band plays at an event in McAllen, Texas, in November 2022. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with CNN two days before the midterm elections, McCarthy outlined his plans for power.
Tamir Kalifa for CNN
McCarthy and an aide wait for a final tally of votes as the House meets to elect a new speaker in January 2023. McCarthy lost 14 votes over four days before he eventually secured the support he needed to win the speakership.
McCarthy and an aide wait for a final tally of votes as the House meets to elect a new speaker in January 2023. McCarthy lost 14 votes over four days before he eventually secured the support he needed to win the speakership.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images
McCarthy celebrates with the gavel after <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F01%2F03%2Fpolitics%2Fgallery%2Fhouse-speaker-vote-2023%2Findex.html" target="_blank">being elected speaker</a> in January 2023.
McCarthy celebrates with the gavel after being elected speaker in January 2023.
Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times/Redux
McCarthy shakes hands with Biden before Biden's State of the Union address in February 2023.
McCarthy shakes hands with Biden before Biden's State of the Union address in February 2023.
Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Getty Images
McCarthy, second from left, joins other congressional leaders as <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F05%2F16%2Fpolitics%2Fbiden-kevin-mccarthy-debt-default-negotiations%2Findex.html" target="_blank">they meet with Biden and Harris</a> in the White House Oval Office in May 2023. They were meeting to talk about a deal to raise the nation's borrowing limit and avoid a historic default.
McCarthy, second from left, joins other congressional leaders as they meet with Biden and Harris in the White House Oval Office in May 2023. They were meeting to talk about a deal to raise the nation's borrowing limit and avoid a historic default.
Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images
McCarthy speaks with reporters as he leaves the House Chamber in May 2023.
McCarthy speaks with reporters as he leaves the House Chamber in May 2023.
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
McCarthy arrives at the US Capitol in September 2023.
McCarthy arrives at the US Capitol in September 2023.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
McCarthy celebrates in September 2023 after the House approved a stopgap bill to <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F09%2F30%2Fpolitics%2Fus-government-shutdown-latest%2Findex.html" target="_blank">avert a government shutdown</a>.
McCarthy celebrates in September 2023 after the House approved a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown.
Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times/Redux
McCarthy walks back to his office after he was <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2023%2F10%2F03%2Fpolitics%2Fmccarthy-gaetz-vote-motion-to-vacate%2Findex.html" target="_blank">voted out as speaker</a> in October 2023.
McCarthy walks back to his office after he was voted out as speaker in October 2023.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters