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On Friday, Representative Darrell Issa, a Republican from California, announced he will not seek reelection for his newly redefined district in Southern California. This decision adds a layer of uncertainty to the GOP’s efforts to maintain its slender majority in the House as the midterm elections approach.
Issa, who has represented his district in the House since 2001, expressed in a statement that he believes it’s “the right time for a new chapter and new challenges.” He emphasized the privilege of serving in Congress, stating, “Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life, and every day my teams in Washington and California have worked to deliver for our constituents, like most recently gaining the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Secret Soldier of the Korean War, the great Royce Williams.”
The 12-term lawmaker was preparing for a challenging reelection campaign. His San Diego district was among those affected by redistricting after Proposition 50 passed last November, resulting in a map more favorable to Democrats.
Issa, who has served in the House since 2001, wrote in a statement that it was “the right time for a new chapter and new challenges.”
“Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life, and every day my teams in Washington and California have worked to deliver for our constituents like most recently gaining the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Secret Soldier of the Korean War, the great Royce Williams,” he wrote.
The 12-term congressman would have faced a tough reelection fight as his San Diego district was among those redrawn after voters approved Proposition 50 last November, which allowed a friendlier map for Democrats.
The referendum, which created up to five potential pickup opportunities for Democrats, sought to counterbalance redistricting in red states such as Texas.
Issa had initially insisted that he could hold the competitive seat despite redistricting, even as a slew of Democratic challengers entered the race, and he privately expressed concerns. He was rumored at the time to be considering a bid in Texas, but that idea was later dismissed.
“I’m thrilled to set the record straight and here’s the truth: Texas House members and residents of that state did ask if I would consider running there following Gavin Newsom’s historically corrupt gerrymander,” Issa told Fox News in December.
“I appreciate the opportunity, but California is my home. I told them I’m going to stay in Congress, and I don’t need to go to Texas for that,” he added at the time.
Issa’s retirement announcement came the same day as another vulnerable Republican lawmaker, Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.), said he would run as an independent instead in the midterms.
In a statement explaining his switch to “no party preference,” Kiley framed the decision as a fight against the “plague” of gerrymandering.
“As an elected representative, I’ve always seen my role as being an independent voice for our community, holding politicians in Sacramento and Washington accountable to serve my constituents. I answer to you, not party leaders,” he wrote on social platform X.
More than 50 House members have opted not to seek another term this election cycle, putting congressional retirements on track to reach their highest level in a decade.