Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentucky's lone congressional Democrat, to retire at the end of this term
Kentucky's lone congressional Democrat and "one of the most powerful liberals in Washington" has announced he will not run for re-election when his term is up in January of 2023.
Rep. John Yarmuth, who has served in Congress for the last 15 years, shared the retirement plans via Twitter on Tuesday. Yarmuth is also chair of the House Budget Committee, and has assisted in guiding President Biden's social safety expansion through the House.
"Truth be told, I never expected to be in Congress this long," Yarmuth said in his announcement video. The almost 75-year-old representative went on to explain that, "in the years I have left," he plans to spend more time with his family — specifically after finding "new and incomparable joy" spending time with his young grandson.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Despite his newfound "lame duck" status, however, Yarmuth intends to "spend the next 15 months working hard to build on my proudest moment — the passage of the American Rescue Plan, which I authored and managed through the Congress."
The congressman's announcement was met with praise for his service, as well as commentary on the sheer significance of the retirement.
Some see it as perhaps a sign Democrats believe they'll lose their majority next year.
On that note, Yarmuth is the "fifth House Democrat to announce his retirement ahead of what is expected to be a brutal midterm election for the party," Politico reports. His departure will otherwise "open up a safe, blue seat in Louisville and provide an outlet for pent up Democratic ambition in the state."
-
The 8 best drama movies of 2025the week recommends Nuclear war, dictatorship and the summer of 2020 highlight the most important and memorable films of 2025
-
Why, really, is Trump going after Venezuela?Talking Points It might be oil, rare minerals or Putin
-
Israel approves new West Bank settlementsSpeed Read The ‘Israeli onslaught has all but vanquished a free Palestinian existence in the West Bank’
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Is Trump deliberately redacting Epstein files to shield himself?Today’s Big Question Removal of image from publicly released documents prompts accusations of political interference by justice department
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
