As the political landscape shifts ahead of the 2026 midterms, a notable number of congressional lawmakers have declared that they will not seek reelection. According to NPR, this figure includes 10 senators and 27 members of the House.
A breakdown of these decisions reveals that 15 lawmakers are opting for retirement from public life. Meanwhile, others are setting their sights on different political positions: 11 are aiming for gubernatorial roles, 10 are looking at moving from the House to the Senate, and Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy is vying for the attorney general position in his state.
The exodus displays a notable partisan difference, with 27 Republicans compared to 10 Democrats planning to exit Washington.
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In the Democratic camp, some of the seasoned lawmakers are stepping aside to allow newer faces to emerge. This includes figures such as Sens. Dick Durbin and Jeanne Shaheen, along with Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Dwight Evans, and Danny Davis.
Conversely, among the Republicans announcing their departure are Sens. Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, and Joni Ernst, as well as Rep. Don Bacon. These individuals have occasionally found themselves at odds with former President Trump’s expanded executive power agenda.
Currently, the Republican Party holds slender majorities in both congressional chambers. To strengthen their position, GOP-led states have initiated mid-decade gerrymandering efforts, aiming to carve out more favorable districts in anticipation of a historically tough election cycle for the ruling party.
In response, California’s Democratic state leadership is proposing a redistricting measure to voters in the upcoming November off-year election as a countermeasure.
In Texas, the revised electoral map, which seeks to diminish the number of Democratic seats by five, has already influenced the political arena. The 78-year-old Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett has decided to retire rather than engage in a primary battle against progressive Rep. Greg Casar.
Copyright 2025 NPR
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