Fifty-one House members and nine senators have decided not to run for re-election, the most retirements from Congress this century.
Fifty-one House members and nine senators have decided not to run for re-election, the most retirements from Congress this century.
Types of congresspeople:
I’m here for the power: Mostly staying.
I’m here because I believe in true left causes: Mostly staying.
I’m here because I am a democrat and there’s literally nothing wrong: Mostly staying.
I’m here for the money or conservative principles, never intended to change anything, and didn’t sign up for this shit: Retiring to my Swiss chalet.
The article cites some democrats that are retiring to run for higher office. Great, anecdotal, but the only data they provide shows it’s basically a Republican retirement wave. Overall I think it’s a wash.
The retiring republicans will be replaced in small part by democrats if there is a blue wave and reasonably fair election, but many are fake MAGA (i.e., voting with Trump 100% of the time, but they don’t like it and privately think it beneath them) who will be replaced by true-believer MAGA who are going to try to actively push us faster into fascism.
The republicans are retiring so we can have more of this
Oof…
Not sure who is downvoting this. If you’re young, you may have never experienced this in your life. But this comment nailed it.
I’ve reached an age where Im reminded of this constantly at all levels.
This one is the most common from my perspective. A lot of cheery hopefuls run for politics for one or two very specific causes. Then after watching the slow machine of government move and it takes 9 months to even get traction on their cause, they check out mentally and are just staying for the money.
In my town, while ICE is kidnapping people off the street, half of the local gov are silent because their political platform was to upgrade a park’s dog area, or provide snacks for libraries, not dealing with armed masked goons.
For every AOC out there, there’s a thousand acting gov officials that quietly just want a paycheck and healthcare, and then causally run again unopposed.
Yeah, you in turn nailed it. To paraphrase the Godfather, we have a peacetime government and we need a wartime government - not because we are asking for it, but because we have one party that is already attempting to actively overturn democracy, and there is no clear opposition strategy.
Oh, people are downvoting? I don’t see anything (lemmynsfw disables downvotes). Didn’t think I was saying anything controversial. Oh well.
I came to this comment when you had -2, which was ridiculous.
Ah, interesting. Honestly, glad I don’t see it.
There’s this German song from the 70s:
So, already in the 70s it was common knowledge that, as a politician, you start working on your retirement early. Silently. Then, when the shit hits the fan, all your sheep are safe and dry.
There are some Democrats, specifically the ones who decided to end the shutdown because the Republicans pinky promised they’d talk about extending ACA benefits (or something).
Confused how Swiss Chalet figures into all of this. Their 2 can dine deal in February is pretty good.
I was thinking the same thing. I’ve actually got a $50 gift card for there right now. Been making to take my wife there, we should get on that soon
Also interesting to note that it seems common for the ruling party to see a lot of retirements in mid-terms, at least in the House.
Republicans have 30 retiring this time. In 2022 the Dems had 29 retirements under Biden. Trump saw 34 Republicans retire in 2018.
There are other outliers of course. The top year, 1992, was a presidential election and both parties saw a lot of retirements.