Headline Roundup • February 17th, 2022
30 House Democrats Have Announced Their Retirement
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice (N.Y.) announced her retirement this week, becoming the 30th House Democrat to retire ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
This marks the most Democratic retirements since 1992, when 41 retired. The exodus comes as Democrats face the historical trend of the president's party losing congressional seats in midterm elections. By comparison, only 13 Republicans have announced their retirement, which would be the party's lowest total since 1988 if no others depart.
Coverage across the spectrum framed Rice's retirement as a bad sign for Democrats' chances in the midterms and as good news for Republicans. One source interviewed by CNN attributed the string of Democratic retirements to "a combination of January 6th, a lack of civility, plus a frustration with a fact that most legislation is leadership driven instead of member driven."
Featured Coverage of this Story
The Hill
Democratic Rep. Kathleen Rice (N.Y.) announced Tuesday she will retire at the end of her current term, becoming the 30th House member from her party to plan on leaving the chamber after this year.
Rice, a former prosecutor and district attorney, said in a statement on her 57th birthday that it has been an “honor” to serve in public office but that elected officials “must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve.”
“Though I will not be running for re-election to Congress this year, I will remain...
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
House Democrats are retiring in numbers not seen in decades as a dire political outlook, new district lines and a negative environment at the US Capitol have combined into a toxic brew for lawmakers considering their political futures.
On Tuesday, New York Rep. Kathleen Rice became the 30th Democrat to announce plans to not seek re-election in 2022. By comparison, only 13 House Republicans are planning to call it quits or seek higher office.
"I entered public service 30 years ago and never left," said Rice of her decision. "I have always...
National Review (News)
Just shy of one in seven House Democrats has elected to retire this year, a historic record. It’s almost as if they’re trying to get out of the way of a coming anti-Biden tsunami.
Representative Kathleen Rice, who represents a majority of Long Island’s Nassau County, announced her retirement suddenly on Tuesday. Her seat went for Joe Biden by twelve points in 2020, but last year, it voted to oust incumbent Democrats from the Nassau County executive and district attorney posts. The seat is viewed as highly competitive, and Rice’s current...
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