Yesterday, Congressman Fred Upton refused to commit to running for re-election AGAIN, this time claiming he would “…make that decision in the next couple of weeks.” Last September, Upton told the Wall Street Journal he would make a decision “in a couple months.” As should be blindingly obvious, it’s been more than a couple months.
This further delay will certainly ramp up speculation that Upton is slated to join the 26 other Republicans and the 7 other members of the DCCC’s 2020 Retirement Watch List to call it quits this cycle. His refusal to make a decision is particularly notable given that he announced his intention run in 2018 in November of 2017.
Upton’s waffling comes on the heels of MI-06 voters openly questioning his decision to cozy up to GOP establishment after his Washington dinner with President Trump and Rep. McCarthy and photos with Vice President Pence.
“Upton has backed himself into a corner,” said DCCC Spokesperson Sarah Guggenheimer. “At this point, Upton’s only options are either to complete his transformation into yet another member of the right-wing Washington establishment and lose next November, or to admit defeat now and announce his retirement.”
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