The landscape of Congress during the concluding years of President Donald Trump's tenure is set to undergo a significant transformation.
An unprecedented number of House lawmakers, approximately 10% or 40 members, have chosen not to seek reelection in 2026.
This trend of resignations is expected to continue as more members return to their constituencies to contemplate their political futures during the festive season.
As reported by WND, while the rate of Senate retirements aligns with the 2024 cycle, the House of Representatives is witnessing the highest rate of departures in over a decade, as per data from Ballotpedia. A comparison with previous years reveals that in December 2023, only 30 House retirements were announced. Even during the 2018 election cycle, when Republicans lost 42 seats and consequently control of the lower chamber, only 32 lawmakers had declared their intention to vacate their seats by December 2017.
The data compiled by The Downballot indicates that Republicans are leading Democrats in retirement announcements, 23 to 17. This trend aligns with past election cycles where the party in power typically experiences a surge in retirements in the run-up to the midterms. Redistricting decisions in Texas and California, coupled with potential changes to congressional maps in Florida and Virginia, could trigger additional retirements.
Among the Republicans opting for early retirement are Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Mark Green of Tennessee, both of whom have chosen to resign before completing their full term. However, the silver lining for Republicans is that the majority of these retirements are confined to safe red seats. The only exception is Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, a vocal critic of Trump, whose battleground seat is expected to swing to Democratic control during the midterms.
Interestingly, a significant number of Republicans leaving Congress are seeking other offices, including senator, governor, and state attorney general. This group includes Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, of New York, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who are leaving the House to pursue political opportunities in their home states.
Four Texas Republicans - Reps. Morgan Luttrell, Jodey Arrington, Troy Nehls, and Michael McCaul - have also decided to retire rather than seek reelection in 2026. Their decisions are noteworthy given their relative youth and the absence of serious primary challenges. Nehls' retirement announcement was particularly notable due to his immediate endorsement of his twin brother as his successor. Nehls, a staunch supporter of Trump's policy agenda, said of his brother, "Ive got this guy. Hes a good looking guy. He looks a lot like me." Trump swiftly endorsed Trevor Nehls to represent the safe red Houston-based seat.
On the Democratic side, several senior lawmakers have announced their decision not to seek reelection, amidst the party's ongoing struggle with age. These include former House Speaker and Reps. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, and Nydia Velazquez and Jerry Nadler of New York. Former Pelosi deputies, Democratic Reps. Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, have yet to disclose their reelection plans.
Meanwhile, some senior GOP members have filed for reelection during the midterms, including Republican Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers and Texas Rep. John Carter. Trump endorsed Carter on Truth Social Thursday, stating, "Judge Carter has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" As the political landscape continues to shift, these changes signal a new era in Congress, one that will undoubtedly shape the future of American politics.
Login