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.
I am hoping for a blue wave here top, but worth noting that so far another 20 or so other House member are not seeking reelection. A total of 57 are bowing out.
Worth noting that being a politician is a much harder job now than it used to be and the security of it is a big challenge. They are now basically in a state of “psychology terror” due to the political violence that is going on against both sides. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/political-violence-distorting-american-lawmaking
Which republican congesspeople have been physically harmed? That’s insanely disconnected from reality.