Three More House Democrats Join Wave Of Retirements Ahead Of 2022 Midterms

Three more Democrats in the House of Representatives will be retiring ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, bringing the total number of Democrat retirements in the House to 21, according to Axios.

The three Democrats, Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), have said that they will not be seeking reelection in 2022. Murphy, who Republican-held battleground district in 2016, said that she was not leaving office out of “fear of losing reelection,” but because she believes in a “citizen Congress.”

“I’ve decided not to seek another term in Congress. Serving Central Florida has been the honor of my life, but it’s also been incredibly challenging for my family and me. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right decision. Thank you for everything,” Murphy wrote on Twitter along with a video explaining her decision.

I've decided not to seek another term in Congress. Serving Central Florida has been the honor of my life, but it's also been incredibly challenging for my family and me.

This was not an easy decision, but it is the right decision. Thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/UaOufbPOSo

— Stephanie Murphy (@SMurphyCongress) December 20, 2021

“These last few years have been some of the most rewarding moments of my life, but also some of the most challenging. Public service is not without personal sacrifice, and as a mom of two young children, my time away from them has been hard. For them. For me. And for our family,” Murphy said in the video.

“I know this may come as a shock to many of you, for someone to quote-unquote ‘retire’ at my age from Congress — without scandal, without immediately seeking higher office, without fear of losing reelection, or without some lucrative job opportunity. I recognize this is a very rare thing to do in Congress, but I still strongly believe in a citizen Congress, where ordinary citizens run for office in search of duty and service, not in search of a career. And I never intended my time in Congress to become a career,” Murphy added.

In response to Murphy’s announcement, the National Republican Congressional Committee, the reelection arm of the House GOP, said that “between Build Back Better collapsing and an unmitigated retirement crisis, this is truly Democrats’ nightmare before Christmas.”

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) announced his retirement last week, saying that he wants to spend more time with his family.

“It is time to pass the baton. It is time to rest and surround myself with the benefits of a life well lived and earned honorably in the service of my fellow citizens,” Lowenthal said in a statement.

According to The Hill, Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) is expected to formally announce his decision to retire before the end of the year.