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brooklynite

(94,499 posts)
Wed Dec 1, 2021, 04:14 PM Dec 2021

Oregon Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio, chairman of transportation panel, to retire at end of his term

Source: Washington Post

Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said Wednesday he is retiring at the end of his congressional term.

“It’s time for me to pass the baton to the next generation so I can focus on my health and well-being,” DeFazio, 74, said in a statement. “This was a tough decision at a challenging time for our republic with the very pillars of our democracy under threat, but I am bolstered by the passion and principles of my colleagues in Congress and the ingenuity and determination of young Americans who are civically engaged and working for change.”
DeFazio has been an active member of the transportation panel since he was first elected to represent Oregon’s 4th Congressional District in 1986.

DeFazio becomes the 19th House Democrat to announce plans to leave office at the end of his term for either another office or retirement.

DeFazio also is the third committee chair who will not seek reelection next year, following Reps. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), chairman of the House budget committee, and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), chairwoman of the science, space and technology committee.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/01/oregon-democratic-rep-peter-defazio-chairman-transportation-panel-retire-end-his-term/
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Oregon Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio, chairman of transportation panel, to retire at end of his term (Original Post) brooklynite Dec 2021 OP
Redistricting makes this possible FBaggins Dec 2021 #1
Thanks for info. riversedge Dec 2021 #2
His district has both major public universities SouthBayDem Dec 2021 #3

FBaggins

(26,727 posts)
1. Redistricting makes this possible
Wed Dec 1, 2021, 05:00 PM
Dec 2021

DeFazio's district was actually slightly red (R+1), but he was able win it by 4-5 points anyway. Normally, retiring would put the seat in jeopardy (particularly with the way 2022 is starting to look).

But the new district lines make the 4th a D+9 district. We should be able to hold it.

SouthBayDem

(32,015 posts)
3. His district has both major public universities
Wed Dec 1, 2021, 07:28 PM
Dec 2021

U of Oregon in Eugene and Oregon State University in Corvallis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon%27s_4th_congressional_district

To be honest I'm not impressed by Oregon's new House district lines. They look less compact than the 2013-23 lines especially the fifth district.

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