Our new book is The Comeback: The 2024 Elections and American Politics. It includes a chapter on congressional and state elections.
As of Wednesday, a record 31 House members had already announced plans to either run for another office or retire outright with months still to go until many states' congressional filing deadlines, Axios' Hans Nichols reported.
That number could further skyrocket with mid-decade redistricting pushing formerly entrenched incumbents into hostile partisan territory.
As of Wednesday, a record 31 House members had already announced plans to either run for another office or retire outright with months still to go until many states' congressional filing deadlines, Axios' Hans Nichols reported.
That number could further skyrocket with mid-decade redistricting pushing formerly entrenched incumbents into hostile partisan territory.
Many of the dozens of House Democrats in their 70s and 80s are also bowing to pressure from the party's grassroots to step aside and create space for a new generation of leaders.
The big picture: Looming over all of these dynamics is a growing frustration with the partisan gridlock and performative grandstanding that have sharply driven down the productivity of Congress.The 2024 election cycle saw an astonishing number of relatively young and middle-aged lawmakers with easy reelection prospects opt to throw in the towel without seeking higher office.
Many of those lawmakers cited the chaotic three-week speaker vacancy created by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ouster in the fall of 2023, which bookended a year of rebellions, brinksmanship and political stunts.
The shutdown appears to be something of a second act, with lawmakers grumbling about how D.C.'s dysfunction is worse than ever.
Between the lines: "It's not just the shutdown," stressed one House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts about the downsides of serving in Congress."The whole experience of being in Congress — violence, dysfunction, emasculated authority, polarization, travel, no cost of living increase for nearly 20 years — can make this a truly miserable job," they told Axios.
"To the degree that the shutdown is involved," said a second House Democrat, "I think it's that it's reflective of dysfunction that makes this job less appealing."
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) announced his retirement in an op-ed at the Bangor Daily News:
I have never loved politics. But I find purpose and meaning in service, and the Marine in me has been able to slog along through the many aspects of politics I dislike by focusing on the good work that Congress is capable of producing with patience and determination.
But after 11 years as a legislator, I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community — behavior that, too often, our political leaders exhibit themselves. My team and I have strived to stay above the fray and, for that, we can hold our heads high with appreciation for each other and the way we have gone about our work.
Additionally, recent incidents of political violence have made me reassess the frequent threats against me and my family. Last year we saw attempts against Donald Trump’s life, and more recently we witnessed the firebombing of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home, the assasination of Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk.
These have made me reconsider the experiences of my own family, including all of us sitting in a hotel room on Thanksgiving last year after yet another threat against our home. There have been enough of those over the years to demand my attention.
Up to now, my daughters have been insulated from the worst of it by their youth. But as my oldest daughter reaches school age, the threats, the intolerance and hate that often dominate political culture, and my long absences, will be more keenly felt. As a father, I have to consider whether the good I can achieve outweighs everything my family endures as a result.
