'Good riddance': Republicans signal 'they're going to lose' House with historic exodus
Nearly three dozen Republican lawmakers are fleeing the House — the most in almost a century – and Democrats are feeling bullish about their chances of winning back a majority.
Rep. Darell Issa (R-CA) became the 35th Republican to announce they will not seek re-election in November, the most GOP retirements since at least 1930 and already one more than the 34 Republicans who left the House during Donald Trump's first term in 2018, reported Rolling Stone.
“Republicans know they are going to lose in November,” crowed Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Justin Chermol.
“By retiring now, they’re avoiding the inevitable humiliation of losing their seats — and gavels," he added. "Good riddance.”
Issa is among several Republicans, including Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), whose congressional districts were redrawn on less favorable terms in response to Texas officials redrawing their congressional map under pressure from Trump, while Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) gave up his re-election hopes amidst a House Ethics Committee investigation of his alleged sexual harassment of a former staffer who later died by self-immolation.
At least 19 of the 35 Republicans leaving Congress are seeking another public office, but some of those campaigns, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) bid for governor, have already failed, and at least one Republican will seek re-election without party affiliation.
“It is no secret I’ve been frustrated, at times disgusted, by the hyper-partisanship in Congress,” posted Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), who announced he's running for re-election, but not as a Republican. “In the last year it’s led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a massive increase in healthcare costs, and of course, a pointless redistricting war.”
Voters' approval of Congress is hovering near record lows, dipping to 14 percent in November – just five points about 2013's all-time low of 9 percent – and there's evidence that Trump's unpopularity is dragging them down.
"It also coincides with a rising disapproval rating for Trump himself — hovering around 56 percent, according to a New York Times average — and little to no indication from the Republican majority that it will seek to act as a check on the president’s power," Rolling Stone reported.
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