As the end of the 115th Congress draws near, lawmakers are bracing for a notable exodus of veteran members due to retirement. While this is normal for the senior ranks of the legislative bodies, it has been trending to include younger members as well. This is in sharp contrast to pastCongresses, and means an influx of fresh blood in Washington next year.
It is estimated that 20-30 members will not return to the House and Senate due to retirement. This includes representatives such as long-time Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who will be leaving the chamber he’s called home for over thirty years. Among other household names, Representative Paul Ryan, the current Speaker of the House, will also not seek another term in office.
This trend of retiring members, however, is not limited to the senior ranks. Even some younger members in the House and Senate are leaving Capitol Hill for good. Representative Pat Tiberi, a Republican from Ohio, announced his plans to leave Congress at the end of the year. Other possible losses include freshman representatives such as Democrat Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, who has served only one term in the House.
These retirements come at a relatively young age, considering the typical lifespans of members in Congress. No one can be certain as to their motivations for leaving, but it is believed to come from a combination of media scrutiny, term limits, and party-driven caucuses. Coolidge Scholar at America’s Future Foundation Eric Boehm notes that staying in Congress for extended periods of time can be “difficult and tedious business” and many lawmakers in both parties may have grown frustrated with the current state of affairs. While these members’ resignations are largely seen as a result of their own decisions, they could also be influenced by either party’s leadership at this time.
This loss of veteran legislators and newcomers alike is significant as it will mean Washington will be receiving many newcomers staring in 2019. “We’re looking at a flood of freshmen members of the 116th Congress who will need to be trained by party leadership before they can step up into larger, more important roles in Congress,” says Boehm.
Whatever the cause, it’s clear Congress is in for some major change at the start of 2019. As members prepare to depart in unprecedented numbers, an influx of young newcomers may help reignite a spark in Capitol Hill. It remains to be seen whether these fresh faces will stay for the long term, but regardless, the end of the 115th Congress will bring a shift in the political landscape that the American people have not seen in quite some time.
As the end of the 115th Congress draws near, lawmakers are bracing for a notable exodus of veteran members due to retirement. While this is normal for the senior ranks of the legislative bodies, it has been trending to include younger members as well. This is in sharp contrast to pastCongresses, and means an influx of fresh blood in Washington next year.
It is estimated that 20-30 members will not return to the House and Senate due to retirement. This includes representatives such as long-time Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who will be leaving the chamber he’s called home for over thirty years. Among other household names, Representative Paul Ryan, the current Speaker of the House, will also not seek another term in office.
This trend of retiring members, however, is not limited to the senior ranks. Even some younger members in the House and Senate are leaving Capitol Hill for good. Representative Pat Tiberi, a Republican from Ohio, announced his plans to leave Congress at the end of the year. Other possible losses include freshman representatives such as Democrat Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, who has served only one term in the House.
These retirements come at a relatively young age, considering the typical lifespans of members in Congress. No one can be certain as to their motivations for leaving, but it is believed to come from a combination of media scrutiny, term limits, and party-driven caucuses. Coolidge Scholar at America’s Future Foundation Eric Boehm notes that staying in Congress for extended periods of time can be “difficult and tedious business” and many lawmakers in both parties may have grown frustrated with the current state of affairs. While these members’ resignations are largely seen as a result of their own decisions, they could also be influenced by either party’s leadership at this time.
This loss of veteran legislators and newcomers alike is significant as it will mean Washington will be receiving many newcomers staring in 2019. “We’re looking at a flood of freshmen members of the 116th Congress who will need to be trained by party leadership before they can step up into larger, more important roles in Congress,” says Boehm.
Whatever the cause, it’s clear Congress is in for some major change at the start of 2019. As members prepare to depart in unprecedented numbers, an influx of young newcomers may help reignite a spark in Capitol Hill. It remains to be seen whether these fresh faces will stay for the long term, but regardless, the end of the 115th Congress will bring a shift in the political landscape that the American people have not seen in quite some time.
