Langevin — who was first elected to his position in 2000, having previously worked as Rhode Island’s Secretary of State and as a state representative — declared his decision in an op-ed published in The Providence Journal, stating that he wanted to spend more time with his loved ones.
“I have not come to this decision lightly, but it is time for me to chart a new course, which will allow me to stay closer to home and spend more time with my family and friends,” he announced. “And while I don’t know what’s next for me just yet, whatever I do will always be in service to Rhode Island.”
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Langevin, the first quadriplegic elected to Congress after he was paralyzed as a teen in an accidental shooting, now works as a senior member on the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Homeland Security.
The Rhode Island Democrat’s statement comes months after he pledged to seek reelection, even if the Ocean State lost a House seat in redistricting and he was forced to challenge Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) in a primary.
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“Nobody wants to run as a House Democrat because their majority is doomed.” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Berg declared in a statement responding to Langevin’s announcement.
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McNerney, 70, was first elected to his Sacramento-area seat in 2012 and currently sits on the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The California Democrat thanked his staff and highlighted their work in assisting secure the creation of a veteran’s health center facility in San Joaquin County throughout his tenure in a series of tweets declaring his retirement.
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“I am grateful for the love and support of my family, who have been by my side throughout this journey. I could not have done this without them,” McNerney stated. “I will keep working for the people of my district throughout the remainder of my term and look forward to new opportunities to continue to serve.”
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“Jerry McNerney is making the smart decision to quit instead of watching Democrats lose their majority,” NRCC spokeswoman Torunn Sinclair replied.
Of the 28 House Democrats who have declared they will not run for reelection, 20 are retiring from public life. Another four are running for the U.S. Senate, while the remaining four are seeking other elected offices. Thirteen House Republicans have declared they will not contest their seats in November.
Republicans need to pick up a net of six seats to regain the majority in the lower chamber.
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