More GOP Retirements Coming
IF YOU ARE A HOUSE REPUBLICAN, this has been an absolutely gutting few weeks. And, truly, if someone is trying to spin you on how the political picture is not that bad for the House GOP right now -- at this moment -- you ought to discount them as a political professional or analyst. Because it’s really, really bad, deflating and discouraging.
ON THURSDAY NIGHT, Texas Rep. WILL HURD -- the only black Republican in the House -- announced he would not run for reelection. He beat Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones by fewer than 1,000 votes in 2018 in a large district that runs the stretch of the Texas-Mexico border -- and she is running again. Republicans like to say this is an R+1 -- fine, perhaps -- but it’s an R+1 that Hillary Clinton won by 3 points, so it’s not much of an R+1.
-- SIDE NOTE: Hurd is particularly close to House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY. When we were traveling with McCarthy for our book just before the 2018 elections, he once startled his Capitol Police detail late one evening after a very long day, agreeing to pay Hurd’s sister a visit at a downtown San Antonio bowling lane. Here’s what he said about Hurd to a group of Republicans during a fundraiser at a restaurant in El Paso just before the 2018 midterms: “Will Hurd is always challenged, but he sets himself apart.”
LET’S REVIEW THE TAPE: In the last two weeks, the following House Republicans have announced they were leaving Congress: Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.), one of 13 GOP women; Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.), a member of leadership; Rep. Pete Olsen (R-Texas), who represents a blueing district outside Houston; Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), a well-respected party elder. Rep. Justin Amash -- an Arab American -- left the party and became an independent. BEFORE ALL THAT: Indiana Rep. Susan Brooks -- the party’s recruitment chair -- decided she would not run again.
A FUN STAT that’s making its way around GOP circles: There are more men named Jim in the House than Republican women running for reelection.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS are increasingly white and male. There is no diversity -- quite literally. How can they recruit anything but white men with what their membership looks like right now? If you’re anything but a white man, you look at the House GOP and see very few people that look like you.
HERE’S THE BLEAK REALITY for the House GOP. It’s summer recess, which means lawmakers are home with their families. As soon as the sun will rise, people will be reminded over the summer that being a member of Congress is not as fun as being at home with their kids or family. Plus, being in the minority stinks. This probably won’t get better for Republicans anytime soon. Expect more people to jump ship -- and soon. Rumors are already swirling about another retirement as soon as today.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2019/08/02/a-gutting-few-weeks-for-the-gop-464358?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000014e-f0ed-dd93-ad7f-f8edad790000&nlid=630318
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