“Too many Republican leaders are lying to America, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, describing January 6 as an unguided tour of the Capitol, and asserting that the ensuing prosecutions are a weaponization of our justice system,” Buck said in a video announcing the decision. Ken Buck of Colorado, one of the few House Republicans to condemn his party’s election denialism, cited the GOP’s extremism on this issue as a specific reason for his retirement. Party polarizationĪs the House and Senate GOP conferences have become more alt-right friendly, a number of moderate and institutionalist (meaning those interested in preserving norms and traditional procedures when it comes to passing policy) Republicans have decided to call it quits, with some signaling that there’s a limited place for their vision in their party. And for older lawmakers, age and a push for generational change were also part of that decision.Īs these departures continue to pile up, here are a few of the reasons lawmakers are eying the exits. For a number of other lawmakers, personal ambitions are a key motivator, including many House members eager to pursue Senate and gubernatorial runs. McCarthy’s departure feels driven by a combination of these factors, with his ouster as leader - which was led by the right flank of his own party - likely influencing his decision to leave. “Overall, though, the House just does not seem like a very pleasant place to be.” “I’m sure the leadership chaos on the Republican side is not helping keep members in Congress,” says Kyle Kondik, a political analyst and managing editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia. Multiple lawmakers who are retiring have cited general congressional dysfunction, from difficulty passing major legislation to petty infighting, as a central reason for their departure. Some of the GOP retirees in both chambers have also expressed concern about the increasingly Trump-centric and extremist direction their party is taking. In the House, several Republicans who’ve announced retirements or resignations are longtime lawmakers known for adhering to congressional norms and traditions rather than the more disruptive tactics of the far right. If these retirements continue at such a rapid pace, however, it’s possible the total number this cycle will exceed past records.Īdditionally, although these departures follow some recent patterns, there are also unique characteristics in the types of lawmakers who are choosing to leave this term. The announcements are also surging around the same time they typically do: right around candidate filing deadlines when lawmakers have to decide if they’re in it for another cycle. The figure in the Senate is slightly higher. The number of House retirements this cycle - people who will finish their term but won’t run for reelection - is on par with 20, according to Ballotpedia. Thus far, 37 House members and seven senators have announced that they’re leaving.Īt this point, these departures are in line with past trends. McCarthy will resign before his term is over, leaving House Republicans with a narrower majority and his California seat up for a special election. Wednesday, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) became the latest lawmaker to announce his departure, adding to a wave of retirements and resignations in both the House and the Senate this term.
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