Full List of Democrats Retiring from House This Year

As the 2024 election cycle approaches, several House Democrats have decided to hang up their political hats and retire from Congress.

This trend of departures could impact the Democratic Party’s strategy and its ability to maintain or expand its influence in the House of Representatives. With a mix of veteran lawmakers and newer faces stepping aside, some citing re-districting as making their re-election chances slimmer, the party faces the challenge of securing capable successors who can uphold their legislative agendas and appeal to an increasingly diverse electorate.

Using data from ballotpedia.org, Newsweek has compiled a list of House Democrats who have announced they are not seeking re-election in November, either through retirement or plans to seek another public office.

The list will be updated as and when new announcements are made.

Departed Congress Early

• Rep. Brian Higgins, New York’s 26th District
• Rep. David Cicilline, Rhode Island’s 1st District

Additionally, Rep. Donald McEachin of Virginia died shortly after winning re-election in 2022.

Retiring from Public Office

• Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, New Hampshire’s 2nd District
• Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland’s 2nd District
• Rep. Wiley Nickel, North Carolina’s 13th District
• Rep. Kathy Manning, North Carolina’s 6th District
• Rep. Anna Eshoo, California’s 16th District
• Rep. Dan Kildee, Michigan’s 8th District
• Rep. Derek Kilmer, Washington’s 6th District
• Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Oregon’s 3rd District
• Rep. John Sarbanes, Maryland’s 3rd District
• Rep. Jennifer Wexton, Virginia’s 10th District
• Rep. Grace Napolitano, California’s 31st District

Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif., pictured in 2019. She is one of several Democrats not seeking re-election in November. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Running for Senate

• Rep. Andy Kim, New Jersey’s 3rd District
• Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware’s District-at-Large
• Rep. David Trone, Maryland’s 6th District
• Rep. Colin Allred, Texas’s 32nd District
• Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Michigan’s 7th District
• Rep. Barbara Lee, California’s 12th District
• Rep. Adam Schiff, California’s 30th District
• Rep. Ruben Gallego, Arizona’s 3rd District
• Rep. Katie Porter, California’s 47th District

Additionally, Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger is running for governor and Jeff Jackson is aiming to be North Carolina’s next attorney general.

Dean Phillips of Minnesota announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in favor of a quixotic bid for president. He suspended that campaign in March.

Representative Dean Phillips speaks during a campaign rally on January 22, 2024 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat, announced he is exiting the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

What This Means for the Democratic Party

The majority of those retiring from public office are 60 or over, including oldest House member Grace Napolitano (87), potentially opening their seats up to a younger generation of lawmakers.

Three California representatives decided to forgo re-election to run for the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Dianne Feinstein. Adam Schiff advanced to the general election that will take place in November, proving more popular than the younger and more left-wing Katie Porter.

Most election forecasts favor the Democrats taking back control of the House in November. Poll-averaging website racetothewh.com currently gives the party a 56.7 percent chance of winning the majority.

Newsweek has also compiled a list of Republican House members not seeking re-election this year, which can be read here.

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