House Republicans flee Congress in record numbers amid growing dysfunction

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

03/28/26 6:00 AM ET


An unprecedented number of House Republicans are opting to retire or pursue other offices, complicating Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) bid to fend off a potential blue wave in the 2026 midterms and preserve his razor-thin majority.

So far, 36 House Republicans — including the most recent, Rep. Sam Graves (Mo.) — have announced they will leave their seat at the end of their term, pointing to legislative gridlock, family commitments or a wish to make room for the next generation of leaders.

That total exceeds the record set in the 2018 midterm cycle, when 34 House Republicans chose not to run for reelection and Democrats regained control of the lower chamber under President Trump’s first term. By comparison, 21 House Democrats are not seeking reelection this year.

But the number is only likely to grow in the weeks ahead, as Republicans reassess their roles in Washington amid a Trump 2.0 era and the expectation that the president’s party historically faces losses in a midterm year.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5805206-house-republicans-retiring-2026/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Reason is that Republican Party is so far out in the extreme right wing weeds

As the country has drifted right, no longer much talk in the media about the political spectrum. GOP are right wing radicals now. As if we didn't know.

[multigraincracker]

2. What every Democrat can do.....

1. Donate to the Democratic Party.

2. Vote. Even if you have to crawl out of bed and drag yourself to the polls.

3. GOTV. Make sure every friend and family member can get there on Election Day.

You can’t pray or wish,
To make it happen, you have to do the above.

[tanyev]

3. Aren't we already past most states' primary filing deadlines?

I mean, Texas already had their primary elections.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. No

See this - https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/2026-candidate-filing-deadlines

A quick scan through and 22 states are still open for filing. Some have a deadline by the end of this month, others by some time in April, and still others go all the way into June, with the latest in July.

The state with the earliest set time to file for 2026 candidacy is Illinois in October 2025. The latest time to file is Delaware's deadline of July 14, 2026, for congressional and statewide offices.

[tanyev]

8. Oh, wow. Thanks.

[OldBaldy1701E]

4. Yes, but look at all the legal actions that they will be avoiding by not being there when the piper comes calling.

Like we don't now why they are doing this.

[SergeStorms]

5. They all rode the wave.....

of the Commanding Criminal in Chief's popularity when it was convenient for them. Now their constituents find out it was all lies and merely the rantings of a deranged egomaniac, so now it's time to flee.

What's a deranged, fascist, egomaniac to do?

Stroke-out and become a drooling, immobile vegetable, I hope. But that's just me. 😁

[llmart]

6. A headline I will gleefully K&R!

Let's hope it continues until every last one of the GOP cultists is gone one way or another.