Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(169,950 posts)
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 05:05 AM Thursday

House GOP Bolts in Record Numbers Ahead of Midterm Bloodbath

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Yonnie3 (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Daily Beast

Updated Mar. 30 2026 5:53PM EDT
Published Mar. 30 2026 5:30PM EDT


A growing wave of Republican retirements is fueling alarm within the GOP, as lawmakers head for the exits ahead of what is predicted to be a brutal midterm cycle.

On Friday, Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri became the 36th Republican House member to announce they will not seek re-election in 2026, saying it was time to “pass the torch” to a new generation. That is compared to 21 House Democrats.

“After considerable reflection, 2026 will be my final year in Congress,” he wrote in an X post. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one. I believe in making room for the next generation. It’s time to pass the torch and allow a new guard of conservative leaders to step forward and chart a path forward for Missourians.”

Graves’ departure pushes the GOP’s retirement wave to its highest level ahead of a midterm in nearly a century, according to an ABC News analysis. The exodus now exceeds the 34 Republicans who chose not to run again in 2018, when Democrats flipped the House in a 40-seat wave during Trump’s first term.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/house-gop-bolts-in-record-numbers-ahead-of-midterm-bloodbath/

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
House GOP Bolts in Record Numbers Ahead of Midterm Bloodbath (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Thursday OP
... littlemissmartypants Thursday #1
Sumpthin about being careful with the door on your way out. 3Hotdogs Thursday #2
I do not think is their worry about "being defeated" as much as not being in office when it all hits the fan. LiberalArkie Thursday #3
Their worry is that they will be held accountable for their parts in creating this mess. OldBaldy1701E Thursday #6
Yea, no accountability is what Republicans do very well. LiberalArkie Thursday #7
They are praying for it! (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Thursday #8
Yea, This translation of this translation of this translation by a misogynistic who was never present to who he talked LiberalArkie Thursday #9
Even farther. They started Fox News in response to Nixon's criminal departure. travelingthrulife Thursday #11
They made their money. They see what we see in Trump Raven123 Thursday #4
I wish they would all leave now tbh Mr. Sparkle Thursday #5
Our rep is not running.....but LtTx Thursday #10
Nobody to blame but yourselves. SergeStorms Thursday #12
And every departure is one less GOP incumbent to overcome. NH Ethylene Thursday #13
I wonder if the party asked them to step down. Talitha Thursday #14
Some of those leaving are being primaried by complete loons BumRushDaShow Thursday #15
Thanks for the insight! Talitha Thursday #16
Most welcome! BumRushDaShow Thursday #17
This message was self-deleted by its author Lasher Thursday #18
Locking Yonnie3 Thursday #19

littlemissmartypants

(33,778 posts)
1. ...
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 06:03 AM
Thursday

3Hotdogs

(15,372 posts)
2. Sumpthin about being careful with the door on your way out.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 07:47 AM
Thursday

LiberalArkie

(19,826 posts)
3. I do not think is their worry about "being defeated" as much as not being in office when it all hits the fan.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 07:54 AM
Thursday

I believe they feel if they are not in office then they can still get CEO and executive type pay somewhere else. History does not look favorably at the people who created a national failure after the fact. People are finally starting to realize that we as a nation has a big problem right now and it was not Obamas or Biden or even Clintons fault.I feel it goes back to Reagan and his wonderful "Create the billionaires" tax cut.

OldBaldy1701E

(11,184 posts)
6. Their worry is that they will be held accountable for their parts in creating this mess.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 08:25 AM
Thursday

So, they are hoping that they can 'retire', and everyone will forget them and their part in making the Empire of the United States a reality.

Knowing us, they will probably get away with it, as collectively, we seem to have a pretty short memory these days.

I would prefer that we make sure to express that we are going after those who allowed this horror show to happen, not just the ringleaders. That means every member of Congress who voted to allow that regime to do what it has done and those who ran interference for said regime as well. They all need to have the fear of 'gawd' put into them.

Including a few of their rabid 'attack dogs; wouldn't hurt, either. And maybe a few platforms that were unabashedly biased towards the regime.

LiberalArkie

(19,826 posts)
7. Yea, no accountability is what Republicans do very well.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 08:44 AM
Thursday

OldBaldy1701E

(11,184 posts)
8. They are praying for it! (n/t)
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 08:56 AM
Thursday

LiberalArkie

(19,826 posts)
9. Yea, This translation of this translation of this translation by a misogynistic who was never present to who he talked
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 09:08 AM
Thursday

about says that I can do this, little girl (or boy)"

travelingthrulife

(5,214 posts)
11. Even farther. They started Fox News in response to Nixon's criminal departure.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 10:07 AM
Thursday

It was meant to be a propaganda tool for the GOP.

Raven123

(7,825 posts)
4. They made their money. They see what we see in Trump
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 08:00 AM
Thursday

Taking their profits and will now go into hiding.

Mr. Sparkle

(3,713 posts)
5. I wish they would all leave now tbh
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 08:12 AM
Thursday

LtTx

(80 posts)
10. Our rep is not running.....but
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 09:55 AM
Thursday

Troy Nehls is not running but his twin brother Trever Nehls is. And he will win, unfortunately. The Nehls name has a lot of recognition in the area. And sadly, Trever is just as maga.

SergeStorms

(20,600 posts)
12. Nobody to blame but yourselves.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 10:24 AM
Thursday

Instead of working for your constituents and looking out for their best interests, you chose to appease the petulant child who stole your political party.

Cowards and enablers, all.

NH Ethylene

(31,352 posts)
13. And every departure is one less GOP incumbent to overcome.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 10:52 AM
Thursday

Making a Dem sweep that much easier.

Talitha

(8,004 posts)
14. I wonder if the party asked them to step down.
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 12:08 PM
Thursday

So they can be replaced by a POS that's more aggressive and evil?

BumRushDaShow

(169,950 posts)
15. Some of those leaving are being primaried by complete loons
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 12:12 PM
Thursday

and others have been in there a long time and would have stayed if not for 45. The rest are claiming they are running for other offices (either for Senate (if a House member) or in their states for governor, etc).

Talitha

(8,004 posts)
16. Thanks for the insight!
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 12:20 PM
Thursday

BumRushDaShow

(169,950 posts)
17. Most welcome!
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 12:29 PM
Thursday

I have the NPR tracker in a tab and it's pretty wild!

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/17/nx-s1-5647318/congress-retirement-2026-house-senate-primary

(they update it as announcements happen)

Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Yonnie3

(19,481 posts)
19. Locking
Thu Apr 2, 2026, 02:46 PM
Thursday

This story was well over 12 hours old when posted.

Statement of Purpose

Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread. On or after election days, discussion threads announcing that a race has been called are only permitted if the source is the Associated Press.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»House GOP Bolts in Record...