Why are so many politicians suddenly retiring as of late, particularly this month?
I’m not complaining, I think these folks need to retire after spending three, four, or five decades in Congress, but it still strikes me as odd that we have seen so many lately.
The latest Congresswoman to announce a retirement from public ‘service’ is Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) of California’s 16th Congressional District. Most will know the district by another name: Silicon Valley.
Eshoo still has roughly 2 years left of her current term before retirement in 2025 but will not be seeking re-election.
My hope is that many others in Congress and the Senate will come to the same conclusion—like Mitch McConnell!
Rep. Anna G. Eshoo made her announcement via the video below:
— Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (@RepAnnaEshoo) November 21, 2023
It was an honor to join Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for a breakfast reception with Members of Congress at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco as part of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. pic.twitter.com/3RIWTSu3Nm
— Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (@RepAnnaEshoo) November 17, 2023
Updating the Ol' House Retirement Big Board with the Anna Eshoo news this morning pic.twitter.com/Rm5xrO2hwH
— Kirk A. Bado (@kirk_bado) November 21, 2023
CBS News provided a short bio:
First elected to Congress in 1992 in the historic “Year of the Woman,” Eshoo was the first woman and the first Democrat to represent her Silicon Valley district.
In addition to the 32 years in Congress she will have served by the time of her retirement, she additionally spent ten years on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
Senior campaigns and elections editor for Politico Steven Shepard explained: “Rep. Anna Eshoo’s announcement is the 11th congressional retirement this month, the most in any single month since Ballotpedia began tracking them in 2011.”
Rep. Anna Eshoo's announcement is the 11th congressional retirement this month, the most in any single month since @ballotpedia began tracking them in 2011 https://t.co/Mm6ZGcTVER
— Steven Shepard (@Politico_Steve) November 21, 2023
Fox News added:
Fellow California Democratic Rep. Tony Cardenas announced Monday that he will also not seek reelection, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., announced last week that she was retiring from the House to run for governor in the state, prompting House Republicans to view her district as a prime pickup opportunity in Virginia.
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