1 hour ago
4
Just 3 months aft declaring "I'm not quitting," Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California announced Friday helium is retiring alternatively of facing a hard reelection run successful a redrawn district.
"It's the close clip for a caller section and caller challenges," Issa said successful a statement. "…Serving successful Congress has been the grant of my life."
Issa, a car alarm magnate considered 1 of the wealthiest members of Congress, had been a main antagonist for then-President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton portion helium served arsenic seat of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, from 2011 to aboriginal 2015.
Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California questions erstwhile Special Counsel Jack Smith during a proceeding earlier the House Judiciary Committee connected Capitol Hill connected Jan. 22, 2026, successful Washington, D.C.
Al Drago / Getty Images
Issa's abrupt reversal injects much uncertainty successful the contention for Southern California's 48th District, which was drastically reshaped successful November after voters approved a caller U.S. House representation for California to favour Democrats.
With an incumbent retired of the running, it whitethorn beryllium harder for Republicans to clasp the spot and, by extension, the party's fragile bulk successful the House.
After redistricting, Issa flirted with the thought of leaving California to tally for Congress successful Texas. But astatine the clip helium decided to enactment enactment successful his location state.
"I tin clasp this seat. I'm not quitting connected California and neither should anyone else," Issa, who represents a territory anchored successful San Diego County, said successful a connection astatine the time.
California's caller legislature map, which was spearheaded by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, is intended to extremity arsenic galore arsenic 5 Republican-held seats to Democrats this twelvemonth to offset President Trump's propulsion successful Texas to summation 5 seats for his enactment there.
A national battle to redraw U.S. House districts for partisan vantage is inactive raging successful immoderate states up of the November midterm elections.
Voters successful Texas and North Carolina already person formed ballots successful superior elections for U.S. House districts redrawn astatine Trump's urging. But the last boundaries for voting districts stay uncertain successful Missouri, adjacent though candidates already are filing for office. They besides are unclear successful Virginia, wherever caller legislature districts could hinge some connected a elector referendum and tribunal rulings.
In a video posted to societal media Thursday, Obama called on Virginia voters to enactment the redistricting effort. Virginia presently has six Democrats and 5 Republicans successful the House. Plans offered by elected Democratic leaders this twelvemonth would effort and displacement those lines successful a mode that could effect successful sending 10 Democrats backmost to the House and conscionable 1 Republican.
In his statement, Issa said helium was endorsing San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond to win him.
In:
English (US) ·