http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/10/politics/california-republican-darrell-issa-retiring-congress/index.ht Well, well. Looks like Issa is calling it quits. Having won his race in 2016 by about 1%, Issa is considered heavily vulnerable in the 2018 race. That also makes his seat heavily competitive for a Democratic Party pickup. A strong vocal supporter of Trump, Issa voted "No" on the Republicans "Tax Cuts for the Rich and Blatant Attack on More Prosperous Blue States Act of 2017". Probably as an attempt to help save his seat. Another CNN article: https://i.imgur.com/UXxP1x0.png Has an excellent interactive chart showing the GOP House retirements in the context of this and earlier elections: Many of these are no doubt "strategic resignations" for districts that they don't feel can be won. We'll like see an increase in GOP resignations as the election season progresses and more Republican rats jump ship.
Republicans are now setting a record for retirements https://www.npr.org/2018/01/10/576889691/gop-retirements-hit-record-level-ahead-of-midterm-fight There are 31 Republicans who will not seek re-election in November (19 retiring and 12 who are running for higher office), and that list is expected to grow in the coming weeks. The last time a party had nearly that many members retire during a midterm year was in 1994, when 28 Democrats left.
The Issa Man Goeth. Issa became the second California Republican to retire this week. On Monday, fellow Southern California Republican Rep. Ed Royce announced he would not seek reelection. Beyond shaking up the California political landscape, the two retirements are a signal that the GOP fears a Democratic wave election that could sweep them from power this fall. http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-issa-retire-20180110-story.html
