Joining House exodus
26th Dem rep. won’t seek re-election
Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado has joined the stampede of House Democrats who say they will not run for re-election this year.
The 68-year-old lawmaker announced his planned departure from Congress on Monday, saying it was time to “pass the torch to the next generation.”
“After much thought and consideration, I have decided not to run for re-election,” the eight-term congressman wrote in a statement. “I have loved representing my friends, neighbors and fellow Coloradans in the Congress of the United States of America.”
Perlmutter’s district, which covers the northern and western suburbs of Denver, has become more competitive due to redistricting. But he said that the Democratic “bench in the 7th District is deep, and fortunately we have a strong group of leaders who are ready and able to take up that torch.”
A rush to the exit
Perlmutter is the 26th House Democrat to say they will not seek another two-year term and the 18th to retire from Congress altogether.
His retirement announcement followed that of Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) last week.
Lawrence, the only black member of Michigan’s congressional delegation, also saw a shift in her district as a result of redistricting. Reports indicated she was unhappy with the change, which saw her district encompass more suburban areas and cut out downtown Detroit.
“I am incredibly grateful for the people in Michigan’s 14th Congressional District, who placed their trust and vote in me — in me, just a little black girl from the east side of Detroit,” Lawrence said in a video posted to Twitter. “You made me your congresswoman.”
In late November, the National Republican Congressional Committee put Perlmutter on its “Exit List” of 40 House Democrats whom it wanted to see unseated or walk away from DC.
“Ed Perlmutter knows House Democrats won’t be in the majority after the midterm elections,” NRCC spokeswoman Courtney Parella said on Sunday. “He made the smart decision to retire rather than lose re-election.”
Democrats currently hold a nine-seat majority in the House, and Republicans see November’s midterm elections as a golden opportunity to retake the House.
Other prominent Democrats to announce their retirement in recent weeks include Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Jackie Speier of California, Stephanie Murphy of Florida, Albio Sires of New Jersey, and Bobby Rush of Illinois.
Four other House Democrats are running for Senate rather than reelection, while another four are seeking other elected offices.
Twelve House Republicans also have announced they are not seeking another two-year term.