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.

  • jpreston2005@lemmy.world
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    3 hours ago

    and just like that, a brand new wave of conservative douchebag lobbyists was born. Every single one of these pieces of shit enabled a fascist takeover of our country. They should hang with the rest of’em.

  • FenrirIII@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    Their “next generation of leaders” are all coked out MAGAts who are frothing at the mouth to bring fascism and Nazi ideals to the country

  • ravenaspiring@sh.itjust.works
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    4 hours ago

    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

    • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
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      2 hours ago

      Which republican congesspeople have been physically harmed? That’s insanely disconnected from reality.

  • modestmeme@lemmy.world
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    16 hours ago

    Something wrong with your party? Stay and fight for the greater good. But nope, three dozen cowards silently walk away.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      There’s a good chance many of the cowards are “the good ones”. Surely some of them have enough of a sense of morality to not want to be part of this …… to not kiss the feet of the golden idol

      • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        Their sitting congresspeople. They don’t have to win an election to affect change. They can simply use their vote to go against the immoral legislation put before them. Instead, they’re just heading for the exits and months or years of voting for the horrible stuff.

        • AA5B@lemmy.world
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          5 hours ago

          I never said they weren’t cowards. A craven sycophant can still recognize how far they’ve fallen and have an attack of conscience

    • Makeitstop@lemmy.world
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      15 hours ago

      That’s what happens when the party repeatedly purges anyone that has any principles beyond self-interest and blind loyalty to a corrupt leader.

      • theneverfox@pawb.social
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        14 hours ago

        I think it’s more that they see the writing on the wall… The people want consequences. There’s likely to be trials

        • tempest@lemmy.ca
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          13 hours ago

          Nah, not unless the Democratic party finds its balls. Mark my works, Trump will kick the bucket long before they decide he’s guilty of something and one or two fall boys will get showy trials but then it will be ‘a time for healing’ or some bullshit about unity.

          You can’t live unless you carve out the cancer and right now I don’t see any incentives that would make them do that.

          It’ll be 8 years of Democrats (if there isn’t major election interference) and you’ll be back where you were with a Trump stooge if he’s still around or maybe one of his kids. FPTP pretty much guarantees it.

          • AA5B@lemmy.world
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            6 hours ago

            Trump would not be able to cause as much harm without all the evil self-servicing minions to carry out his whims. Trump may be old, Trump may have had a rubber stamp Supreme Court say he has complete immunity, but his minions haven’t. Consider the silver lining when he passes that all those minions are subject to the law without his blanket pardons. Thats the real opportunity