House Speaker John Boehner's shock resignation brought swift and strong reaction on Friday — with some lawmakers mourning his decision to step down and others practically jumping for joy.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, called Boehner's resignation "seismic."
"[It's] a stark indication of the disarray of the House Republicans," added Pelosi, who said she learned of the Boehner's bombshell during a Democratic conference meeting.
"All of a sudden, you know how it is, the phones just lit up." Pelosi said. "With all due respect for the speaker and his announcement, we still have to stop this action in shutting down the government."
She called Republicans "a political party at war with its own government."
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said he was stunned by Boehner's move.
"To say that I will miss John Boehner is a tremendous understatement," Reid of Nevada said.
"Boehner looked out for me in the ways that he could. I have not always agreed and wasn't always happy with what John told me but he never, ever misled me. He never, ever told me something that wasn't true. And I accepted that."
Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, called Boehner a "decent, principled conservative.... He tried to do the right thing under almost impossible circumstances. He will be missed by Republicans and Democrats alike."
A somber House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Boehner's likely successor, said:
"It takes profound humility to step down from a position of power, and John's depth of character is unmatched … As our country has weathered difficult times at home and abroad, John has acted as a true statesman, always moving forward with the best interests of the American people close to his heart. He will be missed because there is simply no one else like him."
But Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican and presidential candidate who has been at odds with Boehner, referenced Pope Francis' visit to the United States as he commented on the resignation: "Yesterday John Boehner was Speaker of the House," Cruz said at the Values Voter summit Friday. "Y'all come to town and somehow that changes. My only request is can you come more often?"
Cruz also said: "I have long said leadership decisions are decisions to be made by the House, but I have also long called on Republican leadership to do something unusual, which is lead … There's a frustration across this country. It is volcanic. And it's not complicated to understand."
Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican running for president, said: "I'm not here today to bash anyone, but the time has come to turn the page. The time has come to turn the page and allow a new generation of leaders" to lead.
Former Virigina Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli of the Senate Conservatives Fund called, Boehner "hostile towards conservatives and our principles. Rather than fighting President Obama and his liberal policies, Speaker Boehner embraced them and betrayed his party's own voters.
"The next Speaker of the House must be willing to defend the Constitution and stand up for the principles of freedom that make our nation great."
Rep. David Jolly, a Florida Republican, said: "The honor of John Boehner this morning stands in stark contrast to the idiocy of those members who seek to continually divide us. The shutdown caucus as I call them has a small victory."
Former Florida governor and GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush said in a message posted on Twitter: "John Boehner dedicated his life to public service. Bringing the Holy Father to Congress was a fitting cap to a great career."
Rep. Greg Walden called Boehner's bow-out a "terrible loss for the party," and noted it came just a day after he met with Pope Francis.
"I don't know if this was a message from God but I wish he sent a different message," said Walden, an Oregon Republican.
Rep. Steve Chabot, an Ohio Republican said: "I got choked up."
Rep. Tim Huelskamp, a Kansas Republican who is a member of the House Freedom Caucus that has been attempting to boot Boehner, said: "There's no question conservatives had a victory here."
Huelskamp added: "It's time for new leadership."
Rep. Tom Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said Boehner had "subverted our Republic … I think it was inevitable. This is a condition of his own making right here."
Rep. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said: "It's kind of like the announcement of a death … A lot of really small people look smaller, and he looks bigger. And why not, why not let the guy who's always taken all the slings and arrows for us, take it one more time."
Rep. John Mica, a Florida Republican said Boehner "just does not want to become the issue. Some people have tried to make him the issue both in Congress and outside."
Rep. Reid Ribble, a Wisconsin Republican, said that when Boehner made his announcement on Capitol Hill, "there were people shedding tears in there, and there was clearly a lot of respect for the speaker and the dignity in which he conducted his affairs."
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