Clearly, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen saw the writing on the wall. In response to her retirement announcement, DCCC Spokesperson Cole Leiter issued the following statement:
“It’s been clear for years that the Republican party was out of step with the values of Miami families, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s retirement announcement is testament to the fact she recognized how wide that gap had grown. As one of the most Democratic districts held by a Republican Representative, this district was always going to be competitive. Now it is all but guaranteed to be won by a Democrat who will finally provide the hard working people who live there the representation they deserve. As more vulnerable Republicans recognize the distance between their party and their districts, this retirement could well be the first of many.”