At a Glance
- Over 50 lawmakers from both parties are leaving their seats, mirroring the 2018 midterm exodus.
- Departures include high-profile figures such as Don Bacon and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
- Republicans are exiting at a rate close to 2018, a year that saw a sharp GOP loss.
- Why it matters: The wave of exits could reshape the balance of power in the House and Senate ahead of the 2024 midterms.
A wave of more than 50 congressional departures has swept across both parties, echoing the turmoil of the 2018 midterms and threatening to alter the political landscape for the 2024 election cycle.
Why Lawmakers Are Quitting
Many cite personal reasons-time with family, health-while others blame congressional dysfunction.
- Don Bacon said he was ready for a change, citing family and a desire to avoid dysfunction.
- Jared Golden wrote that he was tired of increasing incivility and nastiness in politics.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene noted that “nothing ever gets better for the common American man or woman” regardless of the political pendulum.
Don Bacon stated:
> “I just was ready for something new. I know my wife was. So, that’s the major reason. I think the more minor reasons are … I’ll say that the dysfunction isn’t attractive,” Bacon said.
Don Bacon added:
> “I think, two, it’s hard – you got to be a really master tactician to run against the left and at the same time disagree with the president on a lot of things. And I’ve done it. I’ve done it since 2020, and I don’t know, to me, I’m just, I just knew it was time for a change,” he said.
Impact on the GOP and Democrats
The GOP is losing seats at a rate comparable to 2018, raising concerns about leadership and redistricting.
| Category | 2018 | Current Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Republicans leaving | 37 | 30 |
| Democrats leaving | 18 | 23 |
- Ralph Norman said he can accomplish more as governor, citing the smaller number of governors versus Congress.
- Lloyd Doggett warned that the House will remain broken as long as Republicans fear a mean Trump tweet.
- Bonnie Watson Coleman said she had tried to advance her issues and now it’s someone else’s turn.
Ralph Norman said:
> “I can accomplish far more on a national level being governor. You know, you got what, 50 governors? You got 435 members of Congress, 100 Senators, 535. So my voice will be heard far greater as a CEO of South Carolina.”
Lloyd Doggett said:
> “So long as the biggest fear of many Republicans is the danger of a mean Trump tweet, the House will remain broken.”
Bonnie Watson Coleman said:
> “I had tried to advance the issues that were of concern to me. … And I just thought that it’s now someone else’s turn to take up that mantle and hopefully carry out some of the values that I thought were important in terms of our domestic policy and our international policy,” she said.
> “I don’t disagree that Congress right now is at its weakest point, that it is becoming a tool of the administration and not in a good way at all.”
Future Candidates and Comebacks
Some lawmakers are eyeing statewide races or Senate seats, while former members plan to return to the House.
- Jasmine Crockett, Chris Pappas, Harriet Hageman, and Mike Collins are aiming to move from the House to the Senate.
- Former Colin Allred ran for Senate last year and is now seeking a comeback.
- Former Cori Bush and Mayra Flores are attempting to reclaim their seats.
Donna Edwards said the toll of congressional life on families is a major factor:
> “It doesn’t matter the environment, especially when you have a family, and spending so much time away from your family, away from your home, it really takes a toll.”
Charlie Hunt explained the current wave of departures:
> “Rather than fighting it out in a tough general election where they’re facing headwinds based on their partisanship, [you see] members deciding, ‘It’s not worth the fight, and so I’m going to sort of fold up my chair and go home,'” he said.
> “That’s definitely what we’re seeing from Republicans this year, in the same way that we saw from them in 2018: They see this blue wave coming, and instead, they are opting to sort of get out of the way of the wave,” he added.
Key Takeaways
- More than 50 lawmakers are leaving, matching the 2018 GOP exodus.
- Departures are driven by personal, health, and frustration with congressional dysfunction.
- The wave could shift the balance of power in the House and Senate before the 2024 midterms.
The mass exit of lawmakers signals a turning point for both parties as they prepare for the upcoming election cycle, with many looking for new roles or to return to politics under different circumstances.
