As Congress struggles, many members bail on re-election plans

If it seemed as if there was a sudden flurry of congressional retirement announcements shortly before Thanksgiving, it wasn’t your imagination. The Wall Street Journal reported, “A dozen lawmakers — six Democrats and six Republicans — have said in November that they don’t plan to continue serving in Congress, the most in any month since at least 2011.”

Let’s note for context that November isn’t quite finished yet.