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House Dems not seeking reelection hits 30-year high: ‘They know their majority is doomed’

February 20, 2022 | | Print Article

Facing dismal approval numbers, soaring inflation, failed agendas, skyrocketing crime, and rumors of war, many Democrats are choosing to retire rather than battle for their broken seats in the upcoming midterm elections.

As reported in The Hill, Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) is the latest to run the other way, making her the 30th Democrat to opt-out of what many predict will be a losing fight to keep control of the House.

“As I turn to the next chapter of my own personal and professional story, I do so with profound thanks to the community leaders, colleagues and staff who have lived our shared commitment to service with courage and humility,” Rice tweeted.

In her written statement, Rice says, “I have always believed that holding political office is neither destiny nor a right. As elected officials, we must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve.”

And what better time than when your party is sinking?

“Thirty House Democrats have called it quits because they know their majority is doomed,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Mike Berg stated bluntly.

With her exit from the race, the number of  Democrats preferring retirement over repudiation has hit a 30-year high.

“That’s the most for the party since 1992, when 41 House Democrats decided to retire even as voters were sending their presidential nominee, Bill Clinton, to the White House,” The Hill reports.

The last time this many Representatives ran for the door was during the last midterms in 2018, when 24 House Republicans threw in the towel.

“It was a grim sign of things to come: The GOP went on to lose 41 seats — and the House majority — in a Democratic wave widely viewed as a referendum on then-President Trump,” says The Hill.

Oh, how the pendulum swings!

“There are a lot of signs that this is not going to be a good year for Democrats,” said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of the University of Virginia’s political handicapper, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, noting that still more retirement announcements are likely to come as states finalize their newly redrawn districts.

If Rice was expecting a fond farewell, she may be in for a disappointment. It seems many won’t miss her in New York’s Fourth District.

“Rice helped pharma lobbyists kill her party’s drug pricing legislation right before she announced she will be leaving Congress and ‘turn to the next chapter of my own personal and professional story,'” tweeted Daily Poster founder David Sirota.

“Democrats see the writing on the wall and are bailing out,” journalist Tim Pool stated.

Leah Greenberg, the co-executive director of the progressive Indivisible Guide also won’t be losing any tears over Rice’s departure.

“Rep. Kathleen Rice retiring to spend more time with her big pharma lobby family,” Greenberg tweeted.

https://twitter.com/davidsirota/status/1493972617056829440?s=20&t=y6cK_AaH3rAK9nuxp0YiIg

https://twitter.com/Timcast/status/1493657184500080649?s=20&t=y6cK_AaH3rAK9nuxp0YiIg

For Calvin Moore, communications director for the conservative Congressional Leadership Fund, the choice Democrats are facing is a simple one: “Retire or get fired, folks!”

Upon last month’s announcement that Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) will also be ending his 32-year run in Congress, Moore stated it’s the “only choice @HouseDemocrats have to make.”

Melissa Fine
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