Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane) announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election this fall, joining a wave of retirements in the House whose dysfunction was on full display this week.
McMorris Rodger's decision to give up nearly two decades of seniority and a powerful committee chair position at just 54 years old has led some Washington Republican political observers to believe he is simply not worth remaining in the tight Republican House majority. This was taken as a clear sign that there was no such thing. That's already it.
McMorris Rodgers announced her decision in a statement, saying she was honored to represent the residents of Eastern Washington.
“They inspire me every day. They are part of the strength and soul of America, the greatest experiment in self-government the world has ever known. After much prayer and reflection, , I decided it was time to serve them in a new way. I do not intend to run for re-election to the House of Peoples, ”she said.
The statement did not mention the specific reasons for his resignation or his future plans, but instead predicted that “the best is yet to come.''
McMorris Rodgers declined an interview request through her publicist, Kyle von Ende, who said she wanted her statement to speak for itself.
Her announcement comes amid some high-profile turmoil in Congress this week as efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement on border security collapsed and House Republicans unsuccessfully tried to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. It was announced in
With this announcement, McMorris Rodgers becomes the second member of Washington's congressional delegation to decline to run for re-election this year. Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat, announced in November that he would not seek a seventh term, citing the personal strain the job has placed on his family life.
McMorris Rodgers' choice to resign comes at a time when she has reached the height of her seniority and power in the House, where she chairs the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. The group has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration's policies and potential plans. Destroy 4 dams on the lower Snake River.
She spent more than $1.6 million on her re-election campaign, faced no major challenger in the solidly Republican 5th Congressional District, and was re-elected in 2022 with nearly 60% of the vote.
In that context, her decision is seen by some local and national observers as a further sign of how unattractive the House of Commons has become for politicians who want to get things done. I did.
Doug Hay, former Republican National Committee communications director, said in a post on social media platform It tells a story.”
King County Councilmember Regan Dunn praised McMorris Rodgers as a “trailblazer” and “dedicated public servant” who was politically aligned with her district. But he said her decision reflects her disgust with what's happening in Washington, D.C.
“There are clearly major league issues with the functioning of Congress, and I think the American people in general are concerned about whether Congress can do the people's job,” Dunn said.
Former state Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance noted that McMorris Rodgers previously rose to the ranks of the Republican leadership as conference chair, but then resigned as chair in favor of an energy and commerce post.
“She was on the leadership track and then she jumped to the policy track. House Republicans are no longer setting policy,” Vance said. “What's the point of being the chair of the most powerful committee and not doing anything and having to put up with Matt Gates and Marjorie Taylor Greene yelling at you all the time?”
Unlike some Republicans, McMorris Rodgers faced no major threat from the MAGA faction of the Republican Party.
She was the only member of Washington's Congressional delegation to vote against impeaching former President Donald Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In return, she will receive President Trump's endorsement in 2022, and two of her Washington House Republican colleagues, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Rep. Dan Newhouse, will receive Trump-backed primary opponents. did. Herrera Beutler was ousted in the primary. Newhouse retained his seat primarily because there were so many pro-Trump challengers that the vote against him was evenly divided.
McMorris Rodgers' only remaining Republican colleague in Washington, Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, praised her as a “defender of conservatives” in the state and the nation.
“Her dedicated service has made the lives of Eastern Washington's constituents and the institution of Congress better,” Newhouse said in a prepared statement. “As her friend, I wish her all the best in her next chapter, wherever it takes her.”
There is widespread speculation among state Republican Party officials that Newhouse may be next to announce his retirement. He did not respond Thursday to a question about whether he plans to seek another term.
Newhouse is already running against one of his Republican challengers, Prosser businessman Jerrod Sessler, who ran unsuccessfully against Newhouse in 2022. Sessler has repeated baseless conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, claiming the incident was orchestrated by left-wing agitators to frame Trump.
McMorris Rodgers is the 18th House Republican not to be re-elected so far this year. Two others have resigned, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who resigned in December after being ousted from the House speakership by House Republicans. Another House Republican, George Santos of New York, was removed from office in December after a series of well-publicized lies and scandals.
Her retirement from the House of Representatives signals the beginning of a new chapter in a life that has revolved around politics and government since she was a child.
McMorris Rodgers won a competitive Republican primary and subsequent general election to replace Representative George Nethercutt, who famously defeated Democratic House Speaker Tom Foley in 1994, and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004. was selected. She previously served in the state House of Representatives for 10 years, and before that as a legislative assistant.
In a statement Thursday, McMorris Rodgers spoke about the faith and family that have driven her career and expressed hope for the future.
“Regardless of our divisions, we must unite in prayer. And as we do so, we can bring hope to broken systems that fail broken lives, broken families, and broken people.” We bring healing. Together, may we always be guided by God's abundant grace and wisdom to keep the promise of America.”
Seattle Times staff writer David Gutman contributed to this report.
