Actor James Woods, 78, announced on Thursday, March 6, 2026, via the social media platform X, that he has ended his membership in the Republican Party and will register as an independent voter. This announcement surprised many observers, given Woods's recent public praise for President Donald Trump just days prior. Woods's decision stems from specific grievances with congressional Republicans, which he detailed in his post.
"I am done with the Republican Party." - James Woods
In his message on X, Woods stated, "I am done with the Republican Party. Between this and Thune’s refusal to pass the SAVE Act, I’m done with these uniparty traitors." He continued, "I’m changing my party affiliation to Independent. No wonder President Trump is fighting an uphill battle every day." The actor's primary frustrations revolve around two key issues. The first is Senate Majority Leader John Thune's reported refusal to advance the SAVE Act, legislation that would mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration. The second grievance involves the failure of a congressional motion to subpoena immigration records pertinent to Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Woods appended a video to his X post featuring South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace, who voiced her own disappointment with fellow Republicans following the motion's failure in the House, stating, "They are useless. Complete losers."
Concurrently, Representative Kevin Kiley of California’s 3rd Congressional District formally departed the Republican Party on Monday, March 10, 2026, also registering as an independent. The two-term congressman made his announcement during a virtual press conference with reporters, declaring, "I will be the sole Independent member of the House of Representatives." CBS News had previously reported that Kiley signaled this shift on the preceding Friday, March 7, 2026, when he filed to run for California’s newly drawn 6th Congressional District under a "no party preference" designation. This designation removes any party label from his ballot and his identity as an officeholder.
On Monday, Kiley solidified his change, telling reporters, "I’m also today asking the clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives to have that reflected in the official roster." Despite his formal departure from the party, Kiley confirmed he intends to continue caucusing with House Republicans through the conclusion of the current term. He explained this decision, stating, "That is how I was elected to begin this term," noting that committee assignments are intrinsically linked to party affiliation, which is a key reason for maintaining his caucus relationship with Republicans while holding independent status.
Kiley also articulated his broader motivations for the switch, posting on X that "Gerrymandering is a plague on democracy, one that Gavin Newsom has brought back to California. But there’s a way we can fight back and protect our democracy from his partisan games: by removing partisanship from the equation." His move immediately tightens Speaker Mike Johnson’s already precarious grip on the House. Prior to Kiley’s announcement, the House operated with 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats, allowing Speaker Johnson only a single defection on party-line votes. With Kiley’s departure, the chamber now stands at 217 Republican seats, 214 Democrat seats, and three vacancies. Axios reported that Kiley did not inform leadership of his decision before his Friday filing, though he did speak briefly with Speaker Johnson over the weekend about continuing to caucus with the conference. These shifts by prominent figures underscore a deepening dissatisfaction with the existing party structures and leadership within the American political landscape.
