Members of Congress are leaving their positions at a rate not seen this century, driven by factors ranging from retirement age and family concerns to dissatisfaction with the current political climate. Two more House Republicans announced their departures last week, bringing the total number of lawmakers heading for the exits ahead of the 2026 midterm elections to 60.
Members of Congress are fleeing the job at a historically high rate
Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia announced Wednesday his retirement from Congress, citing a desire to spend more time with family. Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada announced Friday he would not seek re-election, stating it was “the right time for Nevada and myself to pass the torch.”
The retirements mean 60 members of Congress have decided not to run for re-election this year—51 House members and nine senators. This is the most retirements from both chambers combined this century, according to data from the Brookings Institution’s Vital Statistics on Congress. This figure includes lawmakers retiring from political life and those seeking other offices, but excludes resignations or deaths during the current Congress.
The number of House departures is nearing the recent high of 52 in 2018. As in 2018, more House Republicans are leaving than Democrats.
Lawmakers are retiring for personal reasons, such as health issues or family commitments, and political reasons, including pursuing higher office or avoiding the prospect of being in the minority. Congress can also be a frustrating work environment.
Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is among over two dozen members leaving the House to run for higher office, seeking the open Senate seat in Illinois. He cited the opportunity to hold the president accountable and address issues like affordability as key motivators.
Krishnamoorthi also acknowledged the challenging political atmosphere as a factor in his colleagues’ decisions to retire.
What’s next in New Jersey: A special general election — and another looming primary
Former Rep. Tom Malinowski conceded to Analilia Mejia today in the special Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, all but ensuring Mejia will advance to the April general election against Republican Joe Hathaway.
With several thousand ballots still to be counted, NBC News has not projected a winner, but Mejia’s lead stands at 886 votes and has grown with each update since election night. Mejia, an organizer and activist backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., ran to the left of her opponents and lacked traditional party support.
In the April 16 special election, Mejia is the clear favorite over Hathaway, the mayor of Randolph. New Jersey’s 11th District, largely suburban, backed Kamala Harris by 9 points in 2024 and Joe Biden by 17 points in 2020.
The general election will test whether Mejia’s left-wing platform will cause unease among moderate suburbanites, or if broader concerns about President Donald Trump will override any hesitations.
Several House special elections since Trump returned to the presidency have shown Democratic nominees posting net gains of double digits over Harris’ 2024 vote shares.
The April special election is to fill the remaining months of Mikie Sherrill’s term, who was elected governor. A question remains whether Mejia will face opposition in the June primary for the full two-year term.
All eyes are on the pro-Israel group AIPAC and its affiliated super PAC, which played a role in this primary, flooding the airwaves with anti-Malinowski ads. Former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way is on course to finish in third place. Given Mejia’s criticism of Israel, AIPAC may seek to keep her out of Congress, potentially backing Way in June.
Way will face pressure from within her party not to run again. Following Malinowski’s concession, the state Democratic chairman called for party unity behind Mejia, and Sherrill endorsed Mejia. Many of the benefits of incumbency are now likely to accrue to Mejia. Malinowski pledged to oppose any AIPAC-backed candidate in June.
That’s all From the Politics Desk for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Scott Bland and Owen Auston-Babcock.
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