Kean Fails in House GOP Bid to Draw Articles of Impeachment Against Mayorkas

U.S. Rep. Tom Kean (R-7) tonight failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The Central Jersey Republican joined his colleagues, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4) and U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-1), in registering an aye vote, as House Republicans came up short in trying to pass articles of impeachment for Mayorkas.

Van Drew heads former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign in New Jersey.

From NPR:

The vote was stuck in a tie for several minutes as leaders scrambled, but in the end, four Republicans voted against the measure and the final vote was 214 to 216.

Republicans immediately moved to bring back the resolution up for another vote. But it’s unclear when or if that will eventually happen. Republican Leader Steve Scalise was absent and is expected to return to the Capitol this month.

More context, from Axios:

The House on Tuesday failed to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of an influx of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Why it matters: It’s a stunning loss for House Republican leadership after some of their members broke away and voted against impeachment.

• The last cabinet secretary to be impeached was War Secretary William Belknap in 1876.

Driving the news: The final tally was 214 votes for and 216 votes against, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) absent as he recovers from cancer treatment.

It wasn’t good news for the elusive Kean.

Earlier today, as reported by InsiderNJ Columnist Fred Snowflack:

It was just last Thursday when Jason Blazakis told Morris County Democrats that his polling showed him to be the best candidate to challenge Tom Kean Jr. in CD-7.

Now, he is out of the race.

His boast about polling notwithstanding, Blazakis campaign had raised far less than his opponent Sue Altman.

Efforts to reach Blazakis have so far been unsuccessful, but a political source said Tuesday morning that Blazakis was leaving the race.

And late this afternoon, he posted a statement on social media that said he was exiting with a “heavy heart.”

That leaves Altman as the only candidate left against Kean.

In a “tweet,” today, she said:

“It’s the honor to carry the torch forward for CD-7. I am humbled and inspired by the optimism and experience already present in this district. We will do this together!!”

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