U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett opposed House Speaker John Boehner's re-election.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, one of the few House Republicans who voted against re-electing John Boehner as speaker, said he would "look forward" to electing a new leader of the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives.
"The American people are frustrated with Washington, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the people's House to select leadership that expands opportunity for all, puts hardworking American families first, and has strong principles that represent everyone," said Garrett (R-5th Dist.).
Garrett praised Boehner (R-Ohio), who announced his resignation Friday, as "a dedicated public servant" and wished him "all the best as he begins his next endeavor in life."
After opposing Boehner's re-election, Garrett helped form the Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative House Republicans that announced earlier this month they would not support a spending bill that includes funding for Planned Parenthood, a position that could lead to the second federal government shutdown in three years.
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Garrett refused to contribute to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP fundraising arm, because it supported gay candidates, according to a published report.
FreedomWorks, a Tea Party-aligned advocacy group, attributed Boehner's resignation to the pressure brought by the Freedom Caucus.
"This is an example of grassroots politics at its best and is a huge victory for the House Freedom Caucus," chief executive Adam Brandon said. "Speaker Boehner was not responsive to what activists wanted, and it shows through the terrible approval ratings of Congress. We need a new speaker that represents the entire caucus, not just the special interests in Washington."
Another conservative advocacy group, Heritage Action, said Boehner's resignation could pave the way for a "principled, conservative leader" to lead the House.
"Americans deserve a Congress that fights for opportunity for all and favoritism to none," chief executive Michael Needham said. "Too often, Speaker Boehner has stood in the way. Today's announcement is a sign that the voice of the American people is breaking through in Washington."
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th Dist.) said Boehner "was unable to control the growing fringe of the Republican Party, which is yet again threatening to shut down the federal government in order to advance an extreme agenda."
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.