Republicans not seeking Re-election. Number keeps growing

[Luckyone]

Montana Sen. Steve Daines drops re-election bid​

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced his retirement Wednesday and confirmed he won't seek re-election to a third term and endorsed Kurt Alme, U.S. attorney for the district of Montana.

Why it matters: The Trump ally is the sixth Republican senator to announce ahead of November's midterm elections that they won't stand for re-election.

and another article:

Fifty-one House members and nine senators have decided not to run for re-election, the most retirements from Congress this century.

The latest retirements mean 60 members of Congress have decided not to run for re-election this year — 51 House members and nine senators. It’s the most retirements from both chambers combined this century, according to historical data from the Brookings Institution’s Vital Statistics on Congress. That includes lawmakers who are retiring from political life altogether and those leaving their seats to run for other offices.

The reality of the situation is this:

As of early 2026, a significant number of Republicans are not seeking reelection due to anticipation of a difficult midterm environment, frustration with intense intraparty gridlock, and the desire to avoid expected losses in a potential "blue wave". The shift is driven by President Trump's low approval ratings and voter dissatisfaction with the party's narrow, unproductive majority.

Actions speak louder than words and here we are being shown what is actually happening.................Trump's actions are not positive or welcome by many of the Republicans that initially supported him. Given that speaking against Trump brings very negative actions from Trump, the rest of the Republican Party and from Trump supporters, these members that disagree with what is happening, prefer to just step down/away and go and do something else.

Free speech brings more negatives than ever before.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Most of them are from deep red states/districts.

This is a tempest in a tea pot.

Besides, nearly as many Dems are retiring too.

Carry on.

 

[Meister]

Both partys have retirement among the ranks. Your point is???

• four Democrats and five Republicans—are retiring from public office.
• One Republican is running for governor.

But thanks for your opinion in an attempt to make it about Trump.
Epic fail

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

There is a generational shift going on

 

[Luckyone]

Most of them are from deep red states/districts.

This is a tempest in a tea pot.

Besides, nearly as many Dems are retiring too.

Carry on.

but, but, but they had been ELECTED in those states, no? Why is it that they are suddenly leaving? By the way, this OP is about Republicans leaving their elected posts and not about including the Democrats that are leaving (meaning your last paragraph does not apply). Statistics show that this scenario is the worst ever seen, so it cannot be pooh-poohed (as your "tempest in a tea pot claims).

As such, your responding means you are IGNORING that facts. Not surprising among Trump fans

 

[RhodyPatriot]

but, but, but they had been ELECTED in those states, no? Why is it that they are suddenly leaving?

This happens virtually every election, and Steve Daines in particular has been there forever.

Why don't you ask the same of all the Lefties who are retiring this year?

Bottom line:

This thread = Retardation.

 

[Meister]

but, but, but they had been ELECTED in those states, no? Why is it that they are suddenly leaving? By the way, this OP is about Republicans leaving their elected posts and not about including the Democrats that are leaving (meaning your last paragraph does not apply). Statistics show that this scenario is the worst ever seen, so it cannot be pooh-poohed (as your "tempest in a tea pot claims).

As such, your responding means you are IGNORING that facts. Not surprising among Trump fans

Like I said, your premise is an epic fail. You tried to make something out of nothing,
and it failed.

 

[Luckyone]

Both partys have retirement among the ranks. Your point is???

• four Democrats and five Republicans—are retiring from public office.
• One Republican is running for governor.

But thanks for your opinion in an attempt to make it about Trump.
Epic fail

Bullshit!

Here, once again look at this link (same one as in the OP). In it you will see a graph that shows the highest amount ever, of Republican representatives leaving their offices, in both 2018 and now.

Members of Congress are fleeing the job at a historically high rate

 

[Luckyone]

Like I said, your premise is an epic fail. You tried to make something out of nothing,
and it failed.

Prove that it is failure. Show me statistics where this happened before in the numbers being seen. If you can't do that, the failure is in you saying that I was the one that failed.

It is easy to put out words but if you can't prove your words, all you are is a con artist.

 

[candycorn]

but, but, but they had been ELECTED in those states, no? Why is it that they are suddenly leaving?

It reminds me of the movie Quiz Show in a way.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s about the game show scandals of the 1950’s. There was a rather ugly contestant who was winning the quizzes and he was told to lose so that a more handsome person would win and thus viewership would rise. The movie is about the House committee investigator (played by Rob Morrow I think) and his investigation of the guy who took the dive and the winner who took the prize. Naturally the key witness is going to be the guy who was told to lose and, obviously, the investigator is sympathetic to the guy who got the fuzzy end of the lollipop. So there are a lot interacation between the two.

About 3/4 of the way through the movie, (I won’t give away the ending), Morrow just gets sick of the loser who not only wants to be reinstated but is out for blood from the guy who “beat” him, the executives on the show and NBC.

I get the feeling that many who signed up to actually legislate and work through government to create better outcomes are particuarly offended by the blob who has no interest in better outcomes for anyone other than himself.

 

[Luckyone]

This happens virtually every election, and Steve Daines in particular has been there forever.

Why don't you ask the same of all the Lefties who are retiring this year?

Bottom line:

This thread = Retardation.

again, see the graph in this article and show me any other time than under a Trump presidency, where the numbers were that high. I dare you to do it

Members of Congress are fleeing the job at a historically high rate

 

[Meister]

Prove that it is failure. Show me statistics where this happened before in the numbers being seen. If you can't do that, the failure is in you saying that I was the one that failed.

It is easy to put out words but if you can't prove your words, all you are is a con artist.

4 democrat senators retiring
5 republican senators retiring with one of those running for governor.
You disprove that.

As of March 2026, 53 representatives and one non-voting delegate (22 Democrats and 32 Republicans) have announced their retirement, 27 of whom (8 Democrats and 19 Republicans) are retiring to run for other offices.

Nothing earth shattering, just you trying your damnedest to make something out of nothing.
Run along child.

 

[Meister]

Bullshit!

Here, once again look at this link (same one as in the OP). In it you will see a graph that shows the highest amount ever, of Republican representatives leaving their offices, in both 2018 and now.

Members of Congress are fleeing the job at a historically high rate

19 of the republicans are retiring to run for another office.
Making something out of nothing.

And.....you're not even taking into consideration the number of democrats retiring or running for another office.
Nothing is there for you to hang your hat on.

Why don't you go buy another Chinese stock?

 

[Luckyone]

19 of the republicans are retiring to run for another office.
Making something out of nothing.

And.....you're not even taking into consideration the number of democrats retiring or running for another office.
Nothing is there for you to hang your hat on.

Why don't you go buy another Chinese stock?

Why don't you accept data, statistics and fact?

Look at the red lines and the dates of them, then compare them with the blue lines, and then realize that RED is the MOST ever?

 

[Meister]

Why don't you accept data, statistics and fact?

Look at the red lines and the dates of them, then compare them with the blue lines, and then realize that RED is the MOST ever?

View attachment 1227289

Just what dots are you trying to connect? What part don't you understand when several are
going for other positions? Tell me you're not that ignorant.

 

[Luckyone]

Just what dots are you trying to connect? What part don't you understand when several are
going for other positions? Tell me you're not that ignorant.

Poor try at deflection. Going for other positions is a good answer but the reality is "Why are they doing it NOW"? why not at other times where they are not facing such adverse conditions as Trump has caused. After all, there are not many other jobs that offer the benefits (both income-wise and reputation-wise) that they get being in Congress. Why are they leaving that behind now?

For example, wouldn't you prefer to have a job where most of the time you sit and listen, then talk for a few minutes, then go home, and all during this time, you are seen by your community as their representative, meaning your reputation is in high standing.

Tell me what other jobs offer that and with less effort?

 

[Meister]

Poor try at deflection. Going for other positions is a good answer but the reality is "Why are they doing it NOW"? why not at other times where they are not facing such adverse conditions as Trump has caused. After all, there are not many other jobs that offer the benefits (both income-wise and reputation-wise) that they get being in Congress. Why are they leaving that behind now?

For example, wouldn't you prefer to have a job where most of the time you sit and listen, then talk for a few minutes, then go home, and all during this time, you are seen by your community as their representative, meaning your reputation is in high standing.

Tell me what other jobs offer that and with less effort?

Like I said, your thread is an epic fail. They do it now ahead of an election cycle, idiot.
There are usually issues in every administration, Obama's was BLM riots, Biden's was
wide open borders, corruption. So don't give me that crap about Trump, Trump, Trump.
It just makes you look real stupid.

Just embrace it and move on.

I'm done with your nonsense

 

[berg80]

Five Points on the Montana Senator Trying to Deceive Voters and Gift His Seat to Chosen Heir

Until two minutes before Montana’s 5 p.m. filing deadline, Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) was running to keep his seat.

He’d filed for reelection in late February, had $4.9 million stashed in his war chest.

Six minutes before Daines withdrew on Wednesday evening, Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, who has never run for anything, filed his candidacy. He was met with a rush of endorsements, including one from President Trump on Truth Social.

In a video announcement, standing before a scenic mountainous backdrop, Daines said he had been “wrestling with this decision for months.” He did not address his attempt to pass his Senate seat down like a title to a dynastic heir.

1​

“Crystal Ball is making an immediate rating change for Montana Senate from Safe Republican to Likely Republican, pending more information,” wrote Larry Sabato, a politics professor who directs the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and the election prognosticator Sabato’s Crystal Ball. “Sometimes the voters react badly to these last-minute back room deals resulting in a switch of candidates without the public’s involvement.”

Another prognosticator, Inside Elections, also downgraded the seat from “Solid Republican” to “Likely Republican.”

2​

Seth Bodnar has quite a CV — a Green Beret veteran and current officer with the Montana National Guard, a former Rhodes Scholar, recently president of the University of Montana until he quit to run for Senate as an independent.

He was reportedly pushed into the race by former Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who allegedly wrote in a leaked text message that “every race I ran as Montana Senator and U.S. Senator it was about distancing myself from the Democratic Party” and “during my last two races the democratic Party was poison in my attempts to get re-elected.”

The text angered state Democrats, who have already fielded a 2026 candidate. Daines beat a seemingly formidable Democrat — the popular former Gov. Steve Bullock — by a whopping 10 points in 2020.

Bodnar quickly responded to Daines’ switcheroo.

“Steve Daines has so little respect for Montana Republicans that he withdrew at the last minute to coronate his handpicked successor instead of giving them a voice at the ballot box,” he wrote.

Five Points on the Montana Senator Trying to Deceive Voters and Gift His Seat to Chosen Heir

Until two minutes before Montana’s 5 p.m. filing deadline, Sen. Steve Daines...

talkingpointsmemo.com

R's hated that when Uncle Joe did it.

 

[Luckyone]

Like I said, your thread is an epic fail. They do it now ahead of an election cycle, idiot.
There are usually issues in every administration, Obama's was BLM riots, Biden's was
wide open borders, corruption. So don't give me that crap about Trump, Trump, Trump.
It just makes you look real stupid.

Just embrace it and move on.

I'm done with your nonsense

Oh, but it is okay for you to say "Obama's BLM riots, and Biden's open borders but it is wrong to say Trump's actions?

and then, why don't you address the FACT that it is "record" numbers of departures under Trump?

 

[Harry Dresden]

but, but, but they had been ELECTED in those states, no? Why is it that they are suddenly leaving? By the way, this OP is about Republicans leaving their elected posts and not about including the Democrats that are leaving (meaning your last paragraph does not apply). Statistics show that this scenario is the worst ever seen, so it cannot be pooh-poohed (as your "tempest in a tea pot claims).

As such, your responding means you are IGNORING that facts. Not surprising among Trump fans

its called a conversation lucky....you say something and someone responds....and tough shit if they dont respond the way you want them too....