Kathleen Rice becomes 30th House Democrat to not seek reelection in 2022

[Celerity]

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/15/politics/kathleen-rice-not-running-congress/index.html

(CNN) New York Rep. Kathleen Rice announced on Tuesday she will not seek reelection this fall, the latest in a string of Democratic members of Congress who have decided to retire or seek another office in a challenging political environment.

Rice noted her background as a Nassau County prosecutor and district attorney in a statement. "I entered public service 30 years ago and never left," said Rice. "I have always believed that holding political office is neither a destiny nor a right. As elected officials, we must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve."

Rice is the 30th House Democrat headed for the exit in 2022. While not all of those members serve competitive districts, leaving office is a sign that Democrats are not confident of holding the House majority after November's midterm elections.

After Rice's decision to not seek reelection, the National Republican Congressional Committee tweeted that vulnerable House Democrats "should do the same before they lose in November."

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[FelineOverlord]

1. Kathleen Rice becomes 30th House Democrat to not seek reelection in 2022

Link to tweet

[brooklynite]

2. Coming out of redistricting, she still had a safe D+12 district

This is about not wanting to be in the minority.

[FBaggins]

3. It would have to be a pretty big wave for the 4th to go under

Of course... losing the incumbent doesn't help.

But that district only shifted about a point to the right (D+9 to D+8)

[Mad_Machine76]

4. I don't understand the logic

It’s almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. They think they’re not going to retain the majority so they quit, which usually helps make that happen?

[Celerity]

7. Empty G and Lil Gunny Boebert as hellhounds in the Majority leadership may be a prospect she and

many others passed on. The House is going to be insane IF the Rethugs take it back.

Non stop impeachment attempts (of Biden and Harris, and I wager the new SCOTUS appointee), and the censuring of many Dems (plus stripping some Dems like AOC and the Squad, etc of all committees).

It will be a shitshow.

[Mad_Machine76]

10. It would obviously be bad if that happened

but it's not inevitable nor should it be treated as such.

[Bleacher Creature]

5. This is pretty frightening.

People like her only tend to leave Congress because being in the minority sucks, especially if you're the chair of a committee.

[TheRealNorth]

8. If they don't have the will to fight....

It is probably best they make room for someone who will.

[Bleacher Creature]

9. Agree completely.

When we lost the House in 2010, Nancy Pelosi stuck around to fight to reclaim the majority, which we did in 2018. And now it looks like she'll do the same thing, when most other politicians would have used the change as a reason to retire. Same for Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn.

[mopinko]

6. are they assuming that's the reason, or is that what these people are giving as a reason?

i realize folks are rarely all that honest about their reasons for standing down, but i think the elephant in the room is 1/6.

and ftr, i think we'll do fine in the midterms. by the time the hearings are over and the slobfather is in one dock or another, i think things will change quite a bit.