Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke won't seek reelection, becoming latest GOP retirement

Washington — Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana announced Monday helium volition not tally for reelection, becoming the latest Republican to discontinue up of what could beryllium a pugnacious midterm rhythm for the party. 

"I person made the determination to permission bureau astatine the extremity of my 4th word and not question re-election," Zinke said successful a letter announcing the move. "I bash not instrumentality this determination lightly and person informed President Trump, the Governor, and elder enactment of this hard but indispensable decision." 

Zinke cited wellness issues from his clip arsenic a Navy SEAL arsenic the driving origin for his decision, saying helium risked missing votes successful the aboriginal arsenic helium recovers from aesculapian treatment. 

"While my content successful word limits for elected bureau is simply a consideration, I person softly undergone aggregate surgeries since I returned to Congress and unluckily look respective much instantly aft leaving office," helium said. "The injuries sustained from a vocation successful Special Operations are not instantly beingness threatening, but the repair cannot beryllium deferred immoderate longer and betterment volition necessitate sizeable clip with my woman Lola and my family." 

Zinke has represented Montana successful Congress since 2015, taking a hiatus from 2017 to 2019 to pb the Department of Interior during President's Trump's archetypal term. He resigned from the Cabinet relation amid morals investigations. 

More than 30 House Republicans person announced their retirements frankincense far. In caller months, the enactment has faced changeless hurdles with its progressively constrictive majority.