DemDaily: The House Casualty List. The Updates!
April 16, 2024
The exodus from US House of Representatives continues with 51 members of the 118th Congress retiring or resigning -- the average of number of members who have left each cycle since 2012.
The departures continue to threaten the GOP's narrow majority in the chamber: they hold 218 seats 'to Democrats' 213. Republicans are also defending three of the four current vacancies that will play out in the coming months.
Congressman Ken Buck (R), who represents the reliably red 4th Congressional District of Colorado, is the latest to ender his resignation. Although Buck had previously announced he would not seek reelection at the end of his term, he abruptly declared he would vacate his office, effective March 22.
The five-term congressman cited dysfunction in Congress and increasing political polarization as reasons for his departure. He pointed to the "unconstitutional" House vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and his fellow Republicans' ongoing impeachment probe against President Biden.
The special election to replace Buck will be held on June 25 to coincide with the state's primary elections for House races.
The New York District 26 special election to succeed Brian Higgins (D), who resigned February 2 to become President/CEO of Shea's Performing Arts Center, will take place April 30. State Senator Tim Kennedy (D) and West Seneca Town Supervisor Gary Dickson (R) are their party's chosen nominees.
The special general election for California's 20th District, vacated by Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has gone to a May 21 runoff between Republicans Vince Fong and Mike Boudreaux.
Ohio's 6th District special general election between Michael Rulli (R) and Michael Kripchak (D) will take place June 11. The seat became open when incumbent Bill Johnson (R) stepped down January 31 to become the President of Youngstown State University,
In other developments, Montana's Second District Congressman Matt Rosendale (R), who announced his bid for the GOP Senate nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Jon Tester February 9, dropped out six days later after Donald Trump endorsed Tim Sheehy, his primary opponent. Although Rosendale announced he would run for reelection to his House seat, he withdrew from that race as well in March.
In the contentious intraparty primary race for Alabama's new First Congressional District, Congressman Barry Moore (R) defeated fellow Republican incumbent Jerry Carl 51.5%-48.5%.
Moore and Carl were put into the same district after the US Supreme Court ruled that the state's congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act and ordered a special master to redraw its map to create a Black-plurality voters district.
All told, 27 Democrats (including one Delegate) and 25 Republicans comprise the House Casualty List.
DemList will keep you informed.
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Sources: Ballotpedia, US House, RollCall, CBS, AP
