Republican Lawmaker Flips, Won’t Be Retiring After All

A number of prominent GOP officials have announced their intention to retire after completing their current terms in office. But for many politicians, their words aren’t worth the air into which they’re uttered.

And one Republican lawmaker just rescinded an earlier promise to step down from Congress.

According to the Daily Caller:

Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana announced she will seek reelection in 2024 on Monday after previously deciding to retire.

Spartz announced just months after being reelected that she would not run for a third term in the lower chamber to spend more time at home with her family. Following a wave of GOP retirements in late 2023 and early 2024, Spartz reversed her decision and intends on filing for reelection, according to a statement from the congresswoman.

“Deciding where your duty lies – family, work, or country, is never an easy task. Earlier last year, I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family,” Spartz said in a statement. “However, looking where we are today, and urged by many of my constituents, I do not believe I would be able to deliver this Congress, with the current failed leadership in Washington, D.C., on the important issues for our nation that I have worked very hard on.”

The reversal came almost a year to the day after her initial announcement.

Spartz Will Not Run for Office in 2024 – https://t.co/lDJSlujm8W

— Victoria Spartz (@Victoria_Spartz) February 3, 2023

However, her path toward re-election could be considerably tougher now that she’s given other Republicans a chance to enter the primary race.

In the time between Victoria Spartz' retirement and her unretirement, nine Republicans filed to run for her seat, of whom four have raised substantial money and one – a State Rep. – has loaned his campaign $1 million and already spent the same sum on the race pic.twitter.com/7C9WnEGS1b

— Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) February 5, 2024

One of those candidates, who happened to be endorsed by ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, reacted to the news with a statement of his own.

Max Engling, IN-5 GOP candidate endorsed by Kevin McCarthy, responds to Rep Spartz’s sudden jump back into the race, one year after announcing she would not run for re election https://t.co/VY19wDowRY

— Maggie Howell (@Mar__G_3) February 5, 2024

So who is Rep. Spartz? Former President Donald Trump described her as a “strong advocate” for her Indiana district.

According to the Hamilton County Reporter:

Trump continued, “Victoria is working hard to Grow our Economy, Secure the Border, Hold Big Tech Accountable, Promote American Farmers and Manufacturers, Defend the Second Amendment, and Support our Military, Vets and Law Enforcement. Victoria Spartz has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Of course, she’s also apparently a big fan of sending U.S. money to Ukraine: