Republican Rep. Fred Upton (Mich.) announced today that he would not run for reelection.
WATCH:
Upton, 68, has represented Southwest Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987.
Upton voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for “inciting” the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, after making unfounded election fraud claims.
He was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump and has become the fourth to announce their retirement.
Reps. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Anthony Gonzales (Ohio) and John Katko (N.Y.) previously revealed this would be their last term in Congress.
Trump has taken an active role in supporting primary challengers to most of the 10 Republicans for their perceived disloyalty to the GOP.
Due to redistricting, Upton faced a challenging primary against Trump-endorsed Rep. Bill Huizenga. After the Census Bureau confirmed Michigan had lost one congressional seat, Huizenga’s district merged with Upton’s district.
Reflecting on his three-and-a-half decades in Congress, Upton said, “Even the best stories have a last chapter. This is it for me.”
The Detroit News further reports:
The St. Joseph lawmaker made the announcement on the House floor, bringing to a close months of indecision by Upton, who, at 68, is Michigan’s most senior lawmaker in Congress — a moderate conservative first elected to the U.S. House in 1986.
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In an email sent to supporters and friends Tuesday, Upton cited “very positive” poll numbers and sounded upbeat about his upcoming primary against U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland, but said he’d decided “it is time to pass the torch.”
His retirement would be a substantial blow to Michigan’s clout in the House of Representatives at a time when Republicans are poised to take back the majority in the fall midterm elections.
From the House floor Tuesday, Upton said efforts to work across the aisle and maintain civility have been his “guiding light” over his nearly 36 years in government.
Patrick Houck is an avid political enthusiast based out of the Washington, D.C., metro area. His expertise is in campaigns and the use of targeted messaging to persuade voters. When not combing through the latest news, you can find him enjoying the company of family and friends or pursuing his love of photography.
Sorry to see him go. Wanna go out for ice cream?
What is a “moderate conservative”? I’ve heard moderate Republican many times, but this moderate conservative is a new one. Upton has an “F” grade (42%) liberty score from conservative review based on his voting record. His biggest accomplishment isn’t defending individual liberty or fighting for conservative values, instead it’s his ability to reach across the aisle. This loser is exactly what’s wrong with the Republican party.
Exactly! This man began his career complaining about people who stayed in congress too long, then proceeded to stay in congress 2 decades too long.
Will you people listen to yourselves? You are so far right you are falling off the table. donald trump was a wannabe autocrat. Anyone on the left or the right that called him out on his bullshit was immediately fake news, a liar, a traitor. At the end all he had was a pillow salesman and a bunch of scared senate and house republicans. EVERYONE that had any merit disassociated from him. Maybe you should ask yourself why other Republicans have pushed back against him. Step back and take an objective view. Why does republicans against Trumpisium exsist? Why do I feel the need to vote Blue over any trumpet candidate? I despise big government and hate voting blue. I have not changed. Wake up Republicans!
Well 36 years, no elected official should be allowed to be in office that long. They become greedy and no longer listen to the people but to the elites and those who put up the big bucks.
If you also notice they gain much wealth when in office that long? Pretty amazing.
There are three more Republicans I would like to see retire, Liz Chenny, Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, Lisa Makowski. They are all sheep in wolves cloths I said to thank a Vet never vote for a Democrat but some Republicans like those above I would never vote for.
About 40 years in Congress is not “the best of stories” unless self-serving is the moral of that story. Too many lifers in Congress. They should find a job in the “real” world.