Oregon GOP Rep. Greg Walden announced Monday that he would retire when his current term ends in January 2021 — becoming the 21st Republican lawmaker to say they were not seeking re-election since the 2018 midterms.
“Based on recent polling, strong fundraising, and the backing of my wife and family, I am confident I could earn the support of 2nd District voters for another term. I’m also optimistic that a path exists for Republicans to recapture a majority in the House, and that I could return for two more years as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee,” Walden told Politico, which first reported the story.
“But I also know that for me, the time has come to pursue new challenges and opportunities. So, I will not seek re-election to the US House of Representatives,” he added, “nor election to any other office, but instead I will close the public service chapter of my life, thankful for the friends I’ve made and the successful work we’ve done together.”
The 62-year-old Walden — the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee — won his 11th term in Congress in 2018 against Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Terrebonne by 17 percentage points in a three-way race, the Oregonian reported, in what had been a tough midterm election for Republicans, who lost their House majority.
Walden was seen as a party man but on occasion bumped heads with the president.
Walden backed a series of spending bills to reopen the government during the 35-day shutdown — an easy decision for Walden, who represents scores of federal employees who work for the Bureau of Land Management in his farm-heavy district, Politico reported.
He also backed a resolution disapproving of the Trump administration’s decision to lift sanctions on three Russian companies and backed Democratic legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which contained new gun provisions and transgender protections that most Republicans opposed.
Other GOP lawmakers not seeking re-election for various reasons include Reps. Darrell Issa of California, Greg Gianforte of Montana, Mac Thornberry of Texas, Sean Duffy of Wisconsin and John Shimkus of Illinois, according to CNN, which published a list of those departing.