Seven House Republicans Have Already Plotted Their Exit Strategies This Congress
Just yesterday, we told you that House Republicans are “bracing” for a wave of retirements with August recess on the horizon. In fact, The Hill even pointed out that GOP operatives fear a “tsunami” of retirements could crash any chance Republicans have of retaking the House majority in 2020.
Well, not ten hours later, Politico reported that Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-11) will join Reps. Olson, Brooks, Roby, Mitchell, Bishop, and Woodall in House Republicans’ stampede toward the exits. As the “latest in a string,” Conaway becomes the fifth Washington Republican in just two weeks to share he’ll pack it up and call it quits.
It’s no secret that House Republicans have grown miserable in Washington. The only thing that terrifies many GOP members more than serving in the minority for years to come is the strong prospect of losing re-election in 2020.
As we move into August, we suggest you keep an eye on our 2020 Republican Retirement Watch List for a cheat sheet on who we predict might be next to throw in the towel.
Politico: GOP Rep. Mike Conaway won’t seek reelection in 2020
Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas will not seek reelection in 2020, according to multiple GOP sources, becoming the fifth Republican to announce their retirement over the past two weeks.
Conaway, a veteran lawmaker who represents a ruby red district, has a news conference scheduled for Wednesday in Midland, but did not specify a topic. Republican sources, however, are expecting him to say he’s retiring. His office declined to comment.
Conaway has served in Congress for 15 years, but stepped into the national spotlight in 2017 when he was tasked with leading the House Intelligence Committee’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The panel’s then-chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), had agreed to step aside from the investigation amid ethics charges against him.
Conaway, 71, is also the top Republican on the House Agriculture Committee and has served stints in the leadership of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP’s political arm. Conaway, an accountant, once used his accounting expertise to uncover an embezzlement scheme at the NRCC.
A longtime ally of George W. Bush, Conaway worked as chief financial officer of Bush Exploration, an oil and gas firm, in the 1980s. When Bush was governor of Texas, he appointed Conaway a state board of accountants.
Conaway’s congressional exit is just the latest in a string of GOP retirements, which come as Republicans are in the House minority for the first time in eight years. Other lawmakers who will not seek reelection include Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan, a member of GOP leadership; Rep. Martha Roby of Alabama, one of just 13 Republican women in the House; Rep. Pete Olson of Texas, whose competitive district in the Houston suburbs has already been moved to a “toss up” in 2020; and Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah, who is contemplating a bid for governor.
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