A prominent Republican Member of Congress, who has served for nearly two decades in the House, has announced their retirement.
Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers revealed her intention to depart at the end of this term. She spoke first to The Spokesman-Review, a daily newspaper in Spokane:
The Spokane Republican rose swiftly into a GOP leadership role after she was first elected in 2004. She changed course in 2018 and opted to focus on lawmaking. She took the helm of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee at the start of 2023 and has been a prominent critic of the Biden administration while advancing bipartisan legislation aimed at reining in tech companies, reducing health care costs and more.
By 2009, McMorris Rodgers became the highest-ranking Republican woman in the House of Representatives. She reached the peak of her ascent into GOP leadership as the chair of the House Republican Conference during the John Boehner era.
In 2014, she gained nationwide attention for delivering the GOP response to then-President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Former President Donald Trump considered her as a potential secretary of the interior before ultimately appointing Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke.
In a statement provided to The Spokesman-Review, McMorris Rodgers thanked her staff and credited her family with giving her support and motivation throughout her nearly 20-year career in Congress.
“It's been the honor and privilege of my life to represent the people of Eastern Washington in Congress,” she said. “They inspire me every day. They are part of the strength and soul of America – the greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever known. After much prayer and reflection, I've decided the time has come to serve them in new ways.”
McMorris Rodgers' departure leaves the race for Washington's 5th District wide open, although former President Donald Trump won the Idaho-adjacent seat by 9% in 2020. More significantly, for Republicans, it opens the chair's seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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