An unprecedented number of House Republicans are opting to retire or pursue other offices, complicating Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) bid to fend off a potential blue wave in the 2026 midterms and preserve his razor-thin majority.
So far, 36 House Republicans — including the most recent, Rep. Sam Graves (Mo.) — have announced they will leave their seat at the end of their term, pointing to legislative gridlock, family commitments or a wish to make room for the next generation of leaders.
That total exceeds the record set in the 2018 midterm cycle, when 34 House Republicans chose not to run for reelection and Democrats regained control of the lower chamber under President Trump’s first term.
As a fairly liberal person, I’m amused more than angry with the comment.
I like the facts and would rather let them speak for themselves.
While it’s true that the majority of the reps and senators killed, harmed, or hurt in the last two years are blue such as John Hoffman and his wife, Melissa Hortman, Josh Shapiro, Pelosi’s husband, etc. Don’t discount Kirk’s killing, and Trump’s assassination attempt.
So two very prominent Republican and copy cat challenge are a norm.
Also worth understanding that although the news only talks about the big events, the number of reports of some form of intimidation and threats against politicians in general in the US (local, state, and National) has started to bubble. This is the trend which has caused a lot of politician across the board to rethink their life’s work.