Lawmakers are expecting a wave of congressional retirements this year, and it’s likely that even some of the younger members of Congress will choose not to return for another term in office. In the last two election cycles, a larger-than-average number of Members of Congress have retired before their terms expired. Nationwide, Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with Congress and the direction of the federal government, and that could be a factor in why so many lawmakers are choosing to leave. Younger members of Congress may opt to retire because they are being outraised by their challengers, or because they want to pursue other opportunities. The influx of retirees could also have implications for the balance of party power in the House. In the 2018 election, as many as 30 House Republicans who saw their districts as becoming less Republican opted to retire rather than face difficult re-elections. That could lead to an even more divided Congress in the future.
Lawmakers bracing for many congressional retirements, even from younger members
