Retiring Democratic Reps. John Yarmuth (Ky.), David Price (N.C.), and Mike Doyle (Pa.) have said personal issues were "paramount" in their decisions to step down, but they cited three "political factors" as having played into things, as well: redistricting ahead of the 2022 midterms, former President Donald Trump's influence over the GOP, and increasing division within the Democratic party, writes Jonathan Weisman for The New York Times.
Regarding redistricting, Price told Weisman he fears polarization will grow as district maps become more partisan. Doyle expects his district to expand into more Trump-friendly Pennsylvania counties, meaning although he could still win, he'd have to face a whole new set of voters and challenges. "After 26 years in the House, retirement was logical," writes Weisman.
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.
The representatives also described the intraparty issues among Democrats as a threat and a challenge to functional governance. "I have a concern that we will have the ability to pull ourselves together, and not fracture among the caucuses the way the Republicans have," said Price. And Yarmuth feels those in his own party "who have been drawing all the lines" in the House don't know how to compromise like the older members. "They all have come since 2010," he told Weisman.
But perhaps Doyle explained it best: "We're not having trouble getting reconciliation done because of Republicans; it's because of ourselves."
-
Political cartoons for November 30Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the Saudi-China relationship, MAGA spelled wrong, and more
-
Rothermere’s Telegraph takeover: ‘a right-leaning media powerhouse’Talking Point Deal gives Daily Mail and General Trust more than 50% of circulation in the UK newspaper market
-
The US-Saudi relationship: too big to fail?Talking Point With the Saudis investing $1 trillion into the US, and Trump granting them ‘major non-Nato ally’ status, for now the two countries need each other
-
Could Trump run for a third term?The Explainer Constitutional amendment limits US presidents to two terms, but Trump diehards claim there is a loophole
-
US government shutdown: why the Democrats ‘caved’In the Spotlight The recent stalemate in Congress could soon be ‘overshadowed by more enduring public perceptions’
-
A crowded field of Democrats is filling up the California governor’s raceIn the Spotlight Over a dozen Democrats have declared their candidacy
-
Judge halts Trump’s DC Guard deploymentSpeed Read The Trump administration has ‘infringed upon the District’s right to govern itself,’ the judge ruled
-
Trump accuses Democrats of sedition meriting ‘death’Speed Read The president called for Democratic lawmakers to be arrested for urging the military to refuse illegal orders
-
Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read The Texas congressional map ordered by Trump is likely an illegal racial gerrymander, the court ruled
-
Trump defends Saudi prince, shrugs off Khashoggi murderSpeed Read The president rebuked an ABC News reporter for asking Mohammed bin Salman about the death of a Washington Post journalist at the Saudi Consulate in 2018
-
Congress passes bill to force release of Epstein filesSpeed Read The Justice Department will release all files from its Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation
