House Budget Chairman John Yarmuth (D) announces retirement


On Oct. 12, 2021, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D) announced he will not seek reelection in 2022. Yarmuth has represented Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District since assuming office in 2007 and is the only Democrat to represent the state in congress.

“Truth be told, I never expected to be in Congress this long. I always said I couldn’t imagine being here longer than 10 years,” Yarmuth said. “After every election, I was asked how long I intended to serve, and I never had an answer. Today, I do. This term will be my last.”

Yarmuth has served as chairman of the House Budget Committee since 2019 and was involved in drafting the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. He is also a member of the Committee on Education and Labor.

As of Oct. 2021, 25 members of Congress—five members of the U.S. Senate and twenty members of the U.S. House—have announced they will not seek re-election. Fourteen members—five senators and nine representatives—have announced their retirement. All five retiring Senate members are Republicans, and of the retiring House members, six are Democrats and three are Republicans.

Eleven U.S. House members are running for other offices. Four Republicans and three Democrats are seeking seats in the U.S. Senate, one Republican and one Democrat are running for governor, one Republican is running for secretary of state, and one Democrat is running for mayor. No U.S. Senate members are running for other offices.

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