Democrat Rep. Peter DeFazio just dealt another huge blow to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and announced he will retire rather than run again.
DeFazio is a senior Democrat who currently leads the House’s transportation committee.
He will now retire after 36 years in Congress instead of face the red wave in next year’s elections.
This is just the latest blow to Pelosi as the senior Democrats who know how terrible it is to be in the minority get out now while they can. And while all their campaign accounts are full.
Earlier this week, New York Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi announced he plans to retire rather than run again for his 3rd District seat.
Suozzi said: “We’re really at a crossroads right now. We don’t need cheerleading, we need leadership.
“The far left and the far right have gone too far. I’m interested in getting things done.
“I’ll work with anybody to actually solve problems and get things done for the people that I serve.
“It’s not about being politically correct, it’s about doing the correct thing.
“It’s always a concern, because it’s a swing seat, so you have to listen to all the people.
“I came into Congress in the minority. I got things done in the minority…we may not, we may” be in the minority.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m running for governor because I believe this is the job I am made for,” he said.
From CNN:
In the last 13 days, five House Democrats have said they will retire or run for higher office next year. It began on November 16 with California’s Jackie Speier retiring, followed two days later by North Carolina’s G.K. Butterfield and then two days after that by Texas’ Eddie Bernice Johnson. Two days after that Vermont Rep. Peter Welch said he was running for the state’s open Senate seat. And then, on Monday, came the Suozzi decision.
Already two committee chairs (Bernice Johnson and Kentucky Rep. John Yarmuth) have made clear their plans to retire. That doesn’t usually happen if there is a belief within the caucus that they will continue to hold the majority.
🚨OREGON DEMOCRATIC REP. PETER DEFAZIO, house transportation chair, is retiring, several sources tell us.
Me and @bresreports
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 1, 2021
https://twitter.com/Quintin4Benton/status/1466109616006352899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I am running for Governor of NY as a common sense Democrat who gets things done.
I have the track record, common sense approach to governing & bold new vision to get it done. I can do it, because I’ve done it! Please take a look at my video and share. https://t.co/0GiQIja1qr
— Tom Suozzi (@Tom_Suozzi) November 29, 2021
“I’ll work with anybody,” (Suozzi) said. “It’s not about being politically correct. It’s about doing the correct thing to actually help people.” https://t.co/DWV4EchHxv
— Tom Suozzi (@Tom_Suozzi) November 30, 2021
