Another Democratic member of the House of Representatives has announced his retirement from Congress, the latest in a continuing exodus of Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterms.
Eight-term Colorado Representative Ed Perlmutter made the announcement Monday. “After much thought and consideration, I have decided not to run for reelection,” he wrote in a statement published to Twitter. “I have loved representing my friends, neighbors and fellow Coloradans in the Congress of the United States of America. I will miss meeting the voters of the new 7th District – it is truly the most beautiful district in America. It’s got the best of Colorado in it and even though the numbers are slightly tighter we will win.”
Perlmutter stressed that he was not retiring because the 7th district, which he represents, was redrawn to be more competitive. “I’ve never shied away from a challenge but it’s time for me to move on and explore other opportunities. There comes a time when you pass the torch to the next generation of leaders. I’m deeply gratified that our bench in the 7th district is deep and fortunately we have a strong group of leaders who are ready and able to take up that torch.”
According to CNN, Perlmutter serves as the chair of the Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee and a member of the moderate “New Democrat Coalition.” He is also a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
Perlmutter’s retirement follows the announcement of Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, who announced last week that she was not seeking re-election, as reported by The Daily Wire.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted that as many as 30 House Democrats could retire before the 2022 election. The Daily Wire reported:
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Gingrich stated, “First of all, the House under Nancy Pelosi is not a very happy place, with all the COVID restrictions, all the voting by absentee, all the different things they are doing, the masking, the police requirements. Members actually get checked walking on the floor. I walked on the floor recently, I was astonished that to get on the floor of the House, you go through sort of a TSA system with a policeman watching you, as though you are some subservient person who is a danger to your colleagues.”
“And I think these Democrats are looking forward and thinking, ‘What is this going to be like if I’m in the minority? And it’s just not any fun,’ he continued. “And so I think Kevin’s almost certainly right; you could easily be above 30 retirements before this is over.”
The Washington Post recently reported that the list of retiring House Democrats could include incumbent Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. “After almost 19 years as House Democratic leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) is expected to step down at the close of this Congress,” the Post reported.
The nonpartisan election prognosticator Cook Political Report also shifted its ratings recently, indicating that Republicans are in a prime position to retake the majority after the elections in November.