Republicans
who won't be coming back to Congress after 2018 midterm elections, by Kaitlyn Schallhorn |
Fox News, 2/1/18
Rep.
Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., announced on Jan. 31 that he will not seek re-election. Rep.
Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., announced Wednesday that he will retire from politics and
not seek re-election in the fall. The powerful conservative lawmaker said he
would be “returning to the justice system” after he leaves Congress. Gowdy is
the chair of the House Oversight Committee; he resigned from the House
Ethics Committee earlier this year. “Whatever skills I may have are better
utilized in a courtroom than in Congress, and I enjoy our justice system more
than our political system,” Gowdy, 53, said in a statement. “As I look back on
my career, it is the jobs
that both seek and reward fairness that are most rewarding.”
Multiple
Republican lawmakers have already announced that they will not return to
Washington after 2018. In general, fall retirement announcements are nothing
new. On average, 22 House members retire each cycle, Roll Call reported. Here’s the list
of Republicans, in the House and Senate, who have announced they will not seek
re-election:
Joe Barton 73% sex scandal
Rep.
Joe Barton of Texas said he would not seek re-election. Embattled Rep. Joe
Barton, R-Texas, announced on Nov. 30, 2017, that he was retiring from
Congress.
Barton’s
announcement came after pressure for him to end his re-election bid mounted.
Barton, 68, apologized after a nude photo of him surfaced on social
media. He said he engaged in consensual
sexual relationships while he was estranged from his second wife. "I’ve
always listened to people in Texas and worked for them in Washington, and I’ve
been listening to a lot of people the last week in Texas," Barton told the Dallas Morning News. "There
are enough people who lost faith in me that it’s time to step aside and let
there be a new voice for the 6th district in Washington, so I am not going to
run for re-election."
Jason Chaffetz no score family / fox
news
Jason
Chaffetz was a congressman from Utah. Jason Chaffetz of Utah announced
in May that he would resign from
Congress at the end of June 2017. “My life has undergone some big changes over
the last 18 months. Those changes have been good. But as I celebrated my
50th birthday in March, the reality of spending more than 1,500 nights
away from my family over eight years hit me harder than it had before,”
Chaffetz said at the time. He later signed with Fox News as a
contributor. John
Curtis, a Republican, won a special
election in November to replace him.
Bob Corker 49% Anti-Trump
Sen.
Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said he wouldn't run for a third term. His feud with President
Trump has only escalated.
Sen.
Bob Corker, R-Tenn., announced
on Sept. 27, 2017, that he will not
seek a third term in 2018. Corker, 65, had previously said that he “couldn’t
imagine” serving more than two terms. Corker has often
feuded with President Trump.
Charlie Dent 26% Anti-Trump
Rep.
Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania has been openly critical of President Trump. Pennsylvania
Rep. Charlie Dent said on Sept. 7, 2017, that he would not seek re-election.
The seven-term congressman told
Fox News that he made the decision both
for personal reasons and because “the polarization around here is pretty
severe.” Dent, 57, has been openly critical of Trump. He voted against party
lines and a repeal of ObamaCare last year.
Jimmy Duncan 84% family
Rep.
Jimmy Duncan Jr., R-Tenn., said he loves his family more than his job. Rep. Jimmy Duncan Jr., R-Tenn., announced in
July 2017 that he would not seek re-election.
In
announcing his retirement, Duncan, 70, thanked conservatives who
supported him against “recent attacks against me from the far left.” “I have
decided I wanted to spend less time in airports, airplanes and traveling around
the district and more time with my family, especially my nine grandchildren,
who all live in Knoxville,” Duncan said. “I love my job, but I love my family
more.” Roll Call reported that
Duncan’s sister, state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, could launch a bid for his
empty seat.
Blake Farenthold 70% sex scandel
Rep.
Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, said he would not seek re-election. The House Ethics
Committee is investigating sexual harassment claims against him. After multiple
accusations of sexual harassment, misconduct and inappropriate behavior
surfaced, Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, said he won’t run for re-election. The
House Ethics Committee said earlier in December 2017 that it was expanding a
probe into sexual harassment allegations against the lawmaker, which would
include an investigation into whether he retaliated against a former staff
member for complaining of such behavior. Congressional sources said Farenthold paid an
$84,000 settlement using taxpayer money. In a video posted to his campaign
Facebook page, Farenthold said he “allowed a workplace culture to take root in
my office that was too permissive and decidedly unprofessional.” However, he
continued to deny the sexual harassment claims against him. “It accommodated
destructive gossip, off-hand comments, off-color jokes and behavior that in general was less than
professional,” Farenthold, 56, said. “And I allowed the personal stress of the job to manifest itself in angry
outbursts and – too often – a failure to treat people with respect that they
deserved. That was wrong.” “An unprofessional work environment is not a crime,
but it’s embarrassing to me and to my family. It reflects poorly on the
institution of Congress, on my colleagues and on my constituents, and they
deserve better,” he said. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters
Farenthold was “making the right decision to retire,” citing the “unacceptable
behavior that has been alleged.” But Texas Democratic Party Executive
Director Crystal K. Perkins slammed Farenthold’s decision not to run for
re-election as “simply not enough,” calling it a “PR stunt.”
Jeff Flake 55% low in polls
In
announcing that he would not run for re-election, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.,
slammed Republicans and President Trump.
Sen.
Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., announced on Oct. 24, 2017, that he would not seek
re-election. Flake is an ardent critic of Trump. Flake, 55, faced a tough
re-election campaign in Arizona against Kelli Ward, a physician who has also
challenged Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Trump has previously said that it was
“great” that Ward was running against a “toxic” Flake. In announcing that he
wouldn’t run for re-election, Flake said the GOP is becoming a
“backward-looking minority party.” “It is clear in this moment that a
traditional conservative, who believes in limited government and free markets,
who is devoted to free-trade, who is pro-immigration, has a narrower and
narrower path to nomination in the Republican Party, the party that has for so
long defined itself by its belief in those things,” Flake said.
Trent Franks no score sex scandal
Rep.
Trent Franks, R-Ariz., resigned after he said he made some female staffers
"uncomfortable" by talking about surrogacy issues. Arizona Rep. Trent
Franks announced
on Dec. 8, 2017, that his
resignation would take effect immediately, despite previously announcing that
he'd leave the House in January due to sexual misconduct allegations against
him. He attributed the change in date to his wife's admittance to the hospital
but reports later surfaced alleging Frank repeatedly pressed a former aide to
carry his child, offering her $5 million to act as a surrogate. Franks’ announcement
came as the House Ethics Committee said it was looking into whether he “engaged
in conduct that constitutes sexual harassment and/or retaliation for opposing
sexual harassment.” Franks, 60, maintained that he never physically
intimidated, coerced or had sexual contact with any member of his staff. He
said he discussed surrogacy issues with some of his female staff which made
them “uncomfortable.” The conservative congressman said that “in the midst of
this current cultural and media climate, I am deeply convinced I would be
unable to complete a fair House Ethics investigation before distorted and
sensationalized versions of this story would put me, my family, my staff and
noble colleagues in the House of Representatives through hyperbolized public excoriation.”
The Washington Post reported that
Franks had asked two female employees to be a surrogate for him and his wife.
Franks
initially said he would leave Congress on Jan. 31, 2018 before departing in
December.
Rodney Frelinghuysen 28% tough
election
Rep.
Rodney Frelinghuysen was facing his first competitive re-election race in
decades. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen announced Monday that he will retire at the
end of his term.
The
New Jersey Republican, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, was
facing his first competitive re-election race in decades. Frelinghuysen,
71, was first elected in the 1994 GOP wave that put Republicans in control of
both chambers. He hails from a New Jersey political dynasty that dates to the
late 1700s. His father, Peter, served in the House for two decades.
Bob Goodlatte 68% family
Rep.
Bob Goodlatte is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. House Judiciary
Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte announced on Nov. 9, 2017, that he would not
seek re-election, saying it is “the right time to step aside.”
The
Virginia lawmaker, who has been in Congress since 1993, said he has discussed
whether to run for re-election with his wife, Maryellen, every two years. This
year’s conversation, Goodlatte said, was different. “With my time as Chairman
of the Judiciary Committee ending in December 2018, this is a natural
stepping-off point and an opportunity to begin a new chapter of my career and
spend more time with my family, particularly my granddaughters,” Goodlatte, 65,
said in a letter.
Trey Gowdy 76% prefers justice
system work
Trey
Gowdy is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee. House Oversight
Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy announced on Jan. 31 that he would not seek
re-election or any other political office. The South Carolina Republican, who
until recently also sat on the House Ethics Committee, said he would be
“returning to the justice system.” “Whatever skills I may have are better
utilized in a courtroom than in Congress, and I enjoy our justice system more
than our political system,” the 53-year-old said. “As I look back on my career,
it is the jobs that both seek and reward fairness that are most rewarding.” Gowdy
also oversaw the divisive House investigation into the 2012 Benghazi attack.
Gregg Harper 46% protected group
specialist
Rep.
Gregg Harper, R-Miss., fought for mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination
training for Congress.
Rep.
Gregg Harper, R-Miss., announced in January 2018 that he would not seek
re-election at the end of his term. The House Administration Committee chairman
said he tried to make Congress more transparent and accountable during his
tenure. Harper, 61, was first elected in 2008. He said “10 years will be long
enough” for him to have served in Congress. Harper was an ardent supporter of
anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training in the U.S. House. His
committee held a hearing in November 2017 regarding sexual misconduct involving
current House members. After the hearing, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced
that the House would begin to require anti-harassment and anti-discrimination
trainings for members and their staff.
Orrin Hatch 27% to retire at 83
Sen.
Orrin Hatch's announcement that he would not seek re-election is largely seen
as paving the way for Mitt Romney, a former Republican presidential nominee, to
run for the seat.
Sen.
Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is the longest serving Senate Republican. He announced on
Jan. 2, 2018 – after weeks of speculation – that he would not seek re-election
at the end of his term. The 83-year-old said Trump told him during a recent
visit to Utah that he was a “fighter.” “But every good fighter knows when to
hang up the gloves. And for me, that time is soon approaching,” Hatch said in a
video message posted on social media. “I’ve authored more bills that have
become law than any member of Congress alive today,” Hatch also said, adding
that one of his “proudest legislative achievements” was his work with the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which ensures religious freedoms are
protected. Hatch’s decision not to run for re-election is largely seen as a
path for Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, to run for the open
seat.
Jeb Hensarling 71% family
Rep.
Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said he wants to spend more time with his family. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, announced on
Oct. 31, 2017, that he will not run for re-election in 2018. "Today
I am announcing that I will not seek re-election to the US Congress
in 2018. Although service in Congress remains the greatest privilege of
my life, I never intended to make it a lifetime commitment, and I have
already stayed far longer than I had originally planned," Hensarling,
60, said, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Hensarling
also added that he wants to spend more time with his family.
Darrell Issa 53% tough election ahead
Rep.
Darrell Issa's California congressional seat is seen as a toss-up that could go
to a Democrat in 2018. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., will retire at the end of
his term, he announced on Jan. 10, 2018. Issa, 64, only barely won re-election
in 2016. He beat his Democratic challenger, Douglas Applegate, by
less than one percentage point for
California’s 49th congressional district. This seat was seen as a toss-up that
could potentially go to a Democrat in 2018, even prior to Issa’s impending
retirement. “Representing you has been the privilege of a lifetime,”
Issa, who has been in Congress since 2001, said in a statement. But Issa could
come eventually return to Congress. He is reportedly considering running
for Rep. Duncan Hunter’s seat, should he end up resigning his own seat. Hunter,
however, has said that he is "100% running for reelection."
Lynn Jenkins 55% running for Governor
Thought
to be a candidate for governor in Kansas, Rep. Lynn Jenkins instead said she'll
be returning to the private sector. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., announced
on Jan. 25, 2017, that she would
not seek re-election or run for another office. Jenkins, 54, said she wanted to
return to the private sector although she was highly rumored to be a possible
gubernatorial candidate in Kansas.
Sam Johnson 81% retire at 86
Longtime
Rep. Sam Johnson, 86, is an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam. Longtime
Texas Rep. Sam Johnson announced
his retirement on Jan. 6, 2017.
“For
me, the Lord has made clear that the season of my life in Congress is coming to
an end,” Johnson, 87, said.
Johnson
is an Air Force veteran who was a prisoner of war at the infamous Hanoi Hilton
in Vietnam.
Raul Labrador 91% running for Governor
Rep.
Raul Labrador is running for governor in Idaho instead of seeking re-election. Rep.
Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, announced in the summer of 2017 that he would finish
out his current term but then run for governor of Idaho in 2018 instead of
re-election, according to HuffPost. Labrador, 50,
is a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Frank LoBiondo 30% RINO
Rep.
Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey has differed from his party on a variety of
issues. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., will retire from Congress at the end of
his term. The 71-year-old assumed his seat in 1995. LoBiondo’s retirement opens
up a seat in a potential swing district. Trump won in it 2016, but former
President Barack Obama took the district in 2012.
The
GOP lawmaker has differed from his party on certain issues. He voted against
the budget framework and has expressed concerns about Republicans’ tax plan,
specifically the move to eliminate certain state and local deductions.
Patrick Meehan 34% sex harassment
claim
Rep.
Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., will reportedly not seek reelection after he allegedly
used taxpayer money to fund a settlement to a former aide who claimed he
sexually harassed her. In a letter to his campaign chairman on Jan. 25, 2018,
Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., reportedly said he
would not be seeking re-election. "After
consultation with my wife Carolyn and with my three sons, and after prayerful
reflection, I write to inform you that I will not seek re-election to the
United States Congress for the 7th Congressional District in 2018," Meehan
wrote, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The
decision, the 62-year-old reportedly said, was made following reports that he
allegedly used taxpayer money to fund a settlement to a former aide who claimed
he sexually harassed her. Meehan called the revelations "a major
distraction" and said he needed "to own it because it is my own
conduct that fueled the matter."
On
Jan. 23, 2018, Meehan acknowledged telling a longtime former aide that he
considered her a "soul mate" and admitted acting
"selfishly" after learning that she was dating someone else. The
former aide filed a sexual misconduct complaint against the lawmaker last
summer and he allegedly used taxpayer money in the settlement.
Tim Murphy no score sex scandel
Rep.
Tim Murphy, R-Pa., resigned from his position in October 2017 following reports
that he attempted to pressure his mistress into having an abortion. GOP Rep.
Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania announced on Oct. 5, 2017, that he would resign
his position in Congress. The news followed
reports that the lawmaker, who has publicly been staunchly anti-abortion, had
an affair and asked his mistress to get an abortion when they believed she was
pregnant. Murphy, 65, said he will “take personal time to seek help as my
family and I continue to work through our personal difficulties.”
Kristi Noem 56% running for Governor
Rep.
Kristi Noem is running for governor in South Dakota.
Instead
of seeking re-election in 2018, Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., announced in November
2016 that she will run for governor instead In
her announcement, Noem, 46, officially kicked off her gubernatorial bid this
year.
Steve Pearce 76% running for Governor
Rep.
Steve Pearce is running for governor in New Mexico instead of re-election. New
Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce opted to run for governor of his state instead of
re-election.
Pearce,
70, has been a congressman for more than 12 years. He told the Albuquerque Journal that
as governor he would focus on the exodus of young people leaving the
state.
Ted Poe 73% family
Rep.
Ted Poe, R-Texas, announced that he would not seek re-election and would
instead spend more time with his grandchildren. In a Twitter message, Rep. Ted
Poe, R-Texas, announced that he will not seek re-election.
“I am
grateful for the honor and privilege to represent the best people in America,
Texas’s Second Congressional District. Thanks to the good Lord, I’m in good
health, but it’s time for the next step,” Poe, 69, said on Nov. 7, 2017.
He
added that he’s planning to spend more time with his grandchildren. All 12 of
them were born since he’s been in Congress, Poe said. He assumed office in
2005.
Dave Reichert 23% tough election
Rep. Dave
Reichert, R-Wash., has served seven terms in Congress. After serving seven
terms in Congress, Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., said
he would not seek re-election on
Sept. 6, 2017. A former sheriff, Reichert, 67, represents a district that is
being targeted by Democrats in 2018. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary
Clinton won the area in the 2016 election. Reichert said the decision to retire
from Congress was “the right one for my family and me.”
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 28% RINO
Rep.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., was not a strong supporter of President
Trump. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
R-Fla., announced
on April 30, 2017, that she would
not seek re-election. Ros-Lehtinen, 65, has been a congresswoman since 1989. “The
most difficult challenge is not to simply keep winning elections; but rather
the more difficult challenge is to not let the ability to win define my
seasons,” she said. Born in Havana, Cuba, Ros-Lehtinen is considered a moderate
Republican who was not a strong supporter of Trump.
Ed Royce 48% International specialist
Rep.
Ed Royce, R-Calif., is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. On
Jan. 8, 2018, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., announced that he would not seek
re-election.
Royce,
the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that he wanted to
completely focus his final year as committee chairman on the "urgent
threats facing our nation." Royce, 66, is serving out his 13th term.
In an
announcement detailing his decision to not seek re-election, Royce cited the
tax cut bill passed in December and the crackdown on the global ivory trade as
some of his accomplishments.
Bill Shuster 44% Transportation
specialist
Rep.
Bill Shuster, R-Pa., announced he would not seek re-election at the beginning
of 2018. Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Rep. Bill Shuster,
57, told the Washington Examiner that
even though he doesn’t plan to seek re-election, he still hopes to work with
Trump on passing a large infrastructure bill before he leaves Congress.
The
Pennsylvania Republican announced on Jan. 2, 2017 that he would not seek
re-election in November. He told the publication that as he would not be coming
back to Washington as a congressman, he could better work with parties on both
sides of the aisle during his remaining time in office.
Lamar Smith 64% reasons unknown
Rep.
Lamar Smith, R-Texas, has served in Congress since 1987. (House of Representatives) Rep. Lamar Smith, a 70-year-old
Republican serving Texas, announced Nov. 2, 2017 that he would be retiring from
Congress at the end of his term. Smith, who chairs the House Committee on
Science, Space and Technology, has served in the House of Representatives since
1987.
Luther Strange no score lost primary
Sen.
Luther Strange, R-Ala., lost the special primary election earlier this year to
Roy Moore. (Reuters/Marvin Gentry)
Luther
Strange, R-Texas, was appointed to Jeff Sessions’ old Senate after he was
picked to be the attorney general.
But
Strange, 64, lost in the special primary election earlier in 2017 to Roy Moore.
Moore, who became the GOP nominee for the Senate, eventually
lost to Democrat Doug Jones.
In his farewell speech to the
Senate in December, Strange encouraged his fellow lawmakers to remain committed
to bipartisanship. “To lose the art of balance and compromise in this body is
to lose something essentially American,” he said.
Pat Tiberi no score become association
president
Rep.
Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, announced that he would be resigning from office in early
2018 to lead a business policy group. Ohio Rep. Pat Tiberi, 55, announced on Oct. 19, 2017, that he
would resign from Congress in early 2018 to lead the Ohio Business Roundtable
as the association's president. Serving as a Republican Congressman for 17
years, Tiberi's final day in Congress is Jan. 15, 2018.
Dave Trott 47% tough election
Rep.
Dave Trott, R-Mich., said he will not seek re-election, potentially paving the
way for the Republican-leaning district to flip. Rep. Dave Trott,
R-Mich., announced on Sept. 11, 2017 that he would not seek re-election. Trott,
57, will retire at the end of his second term. His district is
Republican-leaning, but analysts told the Detroit News that a
Democrat could flip the seat.
Fox News' Chad Pergram and The Associated Press
contributed to this report. Kaitlyn
Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News.
Comments
Joe Barton 73% sex scandal
Jason Chaffetz no score family / fox
news
Bob Corker 49% Anti-Trump
Charlie Dent 26% Anti-Trump
Jimmy Duncan 84% family
Trent Franks no score sex scandal
Rodney Frelinghuysen 28% tough
election
Bob Goodlatte 68% family
Trey Gowdy 76% prefers justice
system work
Gregg Harper 46% protected group
specialist
Orrin Hatch 27% to retire at 83
Jeb Hensarling 71% family
Darrell Issa 53% tough election ahead
Lynn Jenkins 55% running for Governor
Sam Johnson 81% retire at 86
Raul Labrador 91% running for Governor
Frank LoBiondo 30% RINO
Patrick Meehan 34% sex harassment
claim
Tim Murphy no score sex scandel
Kristi Noem 56% running for Governor
Steve Pearce 76% running for Governor
Ted Poe 73% family
Dave Reichert 23% tough election
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen 28% RINO
Ed Royce 48% International specialist
Bill Shuster 44% Transportation
specialist
Lamar Smith 64% reasons unknown
Luther Strange no score lost primary
Pat Tiberi no score become association
president
Dave Trott 47% tough election
Of the 30
Republicans in Congress who have announced they will not run in 2018 we have
some reasons that could be accurate. 4 are running for Governor. 5 say family.
4 have a sex scandal. 3 say tough
election. 3 are one issue specialists. 2
are retiring over age 80. 2 are low scoring RINOs. 2 are Anti-Trump. 2 going to
other jobs. 1 reasons unknown. 1 lost the primary.
It is
stunning that almost all of the Republicans were “establishment” and voted for TPP
fast track and then in about a year almost all converted to the Trump Agenda.
We are
losing 4 with scores under 30%. We are
losing 2 with scores between 30% and 40%. We are losing 5 with scores from 40%
to 50%. These 11 have pretty low scores.
We are
also losing 19 with scores over 50% and these are more likely to be Trump
Agenda votes than the others.
In my own
case, I worked 12 hours a day to do everything I could to get Trump
elected. Once he was elected I cut back
to 2 hours a day. It may be that some of
these “retirements” are like that.
4 out of
the 5 lowest scoring “Republicans” on Conservative Review Scorecard are
staying:
Susan
Collins (R-ME) 12%
Lamar
Alexander (R-TN) 17%
Dave
Reichert (R-WA) 23% Leaving
Lisa
Murkowski R-AK) 24%
Thad
Cochran R-MS) 24%
I would
be happier if we were keeping more who scored over 50% and lost more who scored
lower. I hope the “retirees” have great
candidates lined up to replace them. We need to keep control of the House and
Senate and we need to pass everything we need in the Senate with 51 votes.
Somebody
needs to tell all Republicans to stop talking up “bipartisanship”; it’s a Democrat
scam. I expect Democrats to pull out all the stops in States where they could
flip seats.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
No comments:
Post a Comment