The “young gun” from California who rose rapidly through Republican ranks and eventually became speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives announced Wednesday that he would resign later this month. 

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, whose nine-month speakership ended with his ouster in October, announced his departure in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. He touted the American dream, with a nod to his journey as a firefighter’s son who became a golden boy of GOP politics.

While he didn’t mention the rancor that surrounded his toppling this fall, it’s no secret that the political environment in Congress had become intolerable. And not just for Mr. McCarthy. 

In November alone, 13 senators and members of the House announced they were leaving, the highest number in more than a decade. Among those leaving are committee chairs, and members who disproportionately care about making a difference in legislation, says GOP pollster Whit Ayres. 

The wave of retirements has been interpreted by many as further evidence of dysfunction in Congress – though some stepping down are running for higher office or have cited health issues. 

“It probably reflects the level of duress that members have been experiencing,” says Kevin Kosar of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. “The level of partisan rancor just keeps ratcheting up.”

The “young gun” from California who rose rapidly through Republican ranks and eventually became speaker of the House announced today he would resign later this month. 

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, whose turbulent nine-month speakership ended with his abrupt ouster in October, announced his departure with a characteristically upbeat op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. He touted the American dream, with a nod to his own journey as the son of a firefighter who became a golden boy of GOP politics, first in California’s state legislature and then in Congress. 

But while there was no mention of the personal and political rancor that surrounded his toppling this fall, it is no secret that the political environment in Congress had become intolerable for Mr. McCarthy 16 years after he took office. 

“His ouster from the speakership and his decision to retire from the House are the product of a Congress in which polarization has become the norm and trust the exception,” said veteran Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer in a statement, noting that despite opposing policy views the two became friends over their years. 

Mr. McCarthy’s departure comes on the heels of an unusually high number of lawmakers announcing that they are stepping down or will not seek reelection. In November alone, 13 senators and members of the House announced they were leaving – the highest number in more than a decade. The wave of retirements has been interpreted by many as further evidence of dysfunction in Congress, with more members concluding the personal sacrifices are no longer worth it – though those stepping down have given a range of reasons for their decision, including running for higher office. 

“It probably reflects the level of duress that members have been experiencing,” says Kevin Kosar, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, noting that House members spent an unusual 10 straight weeks in session this fall, dealing with two narrowly averted government shutdowns and the speakership saga. “The level of partisan rancor just keeps ratcheting up and makes it a truly stressful, unpleasant environment to work in.”

Mr. McCarthy’s departure leaves the GOP with an even slimmer majority. With the recent expulsion of Rep. George Santos last week, the GOP majority fell to eight seats – meaning the party could have only three dissenting votes from within its ranks if all Democrats opposed.