A record 39 Republican members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, signaling growing frustration within the party.
This is the highest number in nearly a century as the party prepares for the 2026 midterm elections.
On Friday, Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri became the latest to step aside. The 62-year-old chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said after 26 years in office it was time to make room for new leaders.
Graves had filed for re-election just weeks earlier but changed course before Missouri’s filing deadline.
The departures include committee chairs, military veterans, and members running for Senate or governor seats in their states.
Some left before their terms ended, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Mark Green of Tennessee. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas lost his primary earlier this month.
Heading for the Exits
ABC News tallied 36 House Republicans not seeking re-election as of late March, with the total reaching 39 when counting additional announcements and early exits.
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This tops the 34 Republicans who left ahead of the 2018 midterms, when Democrats gained 40 seats and took control of the House during President Trump’s first term.
The group features senior figures such as Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas, who led the House Budget Committee, retired Navy SEAL Rep. Morgan Luttrell of Texas, and retired Air Force brigadier general Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska.
At least 20 of the Republicans are pursuing Senate or governor races instead of staying in the House.
By comparison, 21 House Democrats have said they will not run again. That is more than the number of Democrats who retired ahead of 2018 but fewer than the 29 who left before the 2022 cycle, when Republicans regained the majority.
Many lawmakers from both parties cited family reasons and long careers. Others pointed to redistricting that changed their districts and forced new campaign fights. A small number mentioned the overall difficulty of the job.
Many Reasons for Leaving
Rep. Jared Golden, a 43-year-old moderate Democrat from Maine, announced his retirement in November 2025.
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His district leaned toward Trump in recent elections, and he had won re-election as one of the few Democrats holding a Republican-leaning seat.
In a column for the Bangor Daily News, Golden wrote about the toll of public life: “As a father, I have to consider whether the good I can achieve outweighs everything my family endures as a result.”
He pointed to “increasing incivility and plain nastiness” in politics and recent incidents of political violence.
Some members also described frustration with congressional gridlock, including the longest government shutdown in history last fall.
Why This Matters
Open seats created by retirements often draw more competitive races and higher spending.
With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House, a large number of GOP departures increases the chance that several districts could flip parties in November.
Midterm elections have historically been tough for the president’s party. The wave of Republican exits comes as the party defends its slim edge in the lower chamber and faces the usual challenges of governing with a divided Congress.
The final number of open seats will become clearer as more filing deadlines pass and primaries get underway.
