Fourteen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026

Welcome to the Tuesday, May 6, Brew.

By: Briana Ryan

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

Fourteen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026
Ohio voters to decide on a $2.5-billion bond measure for local infrastructure projects
Ballotpedia Fellows Program: Applications Now Open!

Fourteen members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026

Since our April 15 update on congressional retirements, five members of Congress—one senator and four representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026.

Here are the latest members to announce their retirements and how three independent forecasters rate each general election as of April 29.

Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.)—who represents Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District—announced on April 29 that she will run for the U.S. Senate. The Cook Political Report rated the 2026 general election for the district as Solid Democratic, Inside Elections rated it Lean Democratic, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Likely Democratic.
Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.)—who represents Virginia’s 11th Congressional District—announced on April 28 that he will retire from public office. The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the district as Solid Democratic. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it as Safe Democratic.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced on April 23 that he will retire from public office. The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the 2026 general election for the seat as Solid Democratic. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Democratic.
Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.)—who represents Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District—announced on April 22 that he will run for the U.S. Senate. The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the district as Solid Republican. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Republican.
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.)—who represents Michigan’s 11th Congressional District—announced on April 22 that she will run for the U.S. Senate. The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the district as Solid Democratic. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it as Safe Democratic.

Including the announcements above, 14 members of Congress—five senators and nine representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Compared to previous years, this year has had the second-highest number of retirement announcements at this point since 2018. The most announcements at this point happened in 2022, when there were 16 announcements.

U.S. Senate

Five senators—three Democrats and one Republican—announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. They are Durbin, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

Compared to the last four election cycles, there were two retirement announcements at this point in 2024, five in 2022, three in 2020, and none in 2018.

U.S. House of Representatives

Nine representatives—four Democrats and five Republicans—announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Of the nine representatives not seeking re-election:

One Democrat is retiring from public office.
Four—three Democrats and one Republican—are running for the U.S. Senate.
Four—all Republicans—are running for governor.

Compared to the last four election cycles, there were eight retirement announcements at this point in 2024, 11 in 2022, five in 2020, and seven in 2018.

Congressional retirements by month

Between January 2011 and May 2025, we followed 361 announcements from members of the Senate and House who announced they would not seek re-election. January had the highest number of announcements of any month at 69. The fewest announcements—12—happened in June.

Click here for more information on the incumbents not seeking re-election in 2026.

Ohio voters to decide on a $2.5-billion bond measure for local infrastructure projects

Ohio voters will decide on Issue 2 on May 6. This measure would authorize issuing up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds (GO bonds) over 10 years, with no more than $250 million issued annually. In Ohio, a GO bond is a type of loan the state can use to fund public projects. These bonds are backed by tax revenues.

The funding would be provided through the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP), which offers financial support to local governments for infrastructure projects. According to the Ohio Public Works Commission, SCIP funded 4,543 projects across the state’s 88 counties between fiscal years 2017 and 2025. The program supports capital improvement projects related to roads and bridges, wastewater treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste facilities, flood control systems, and stormwater or sanitary sewer systems. It also covers land, buildings, and equipment needed for those projects.

Ohio is currently a Republican trifecta, which means Republicans control the governorship and both legislative chambers. On Dec. 4, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Joint Resolution 8 (HJR 8)—the bill to put the measure on the ballot—87-4. On Dec. 18, the Ohio Senate approved the bill 30-1. The image below shows the full partisan breakdown of the votes in each chamber.

Sen. Brian Chavez (R), who supports Issue 2, said, “The program does not create any increase in taxes because the funds to retire the bonds are built into the state budget planning.” State Rep. Ron Ferguson (R), who opposes Issue 2, said, “We’re in this time where we should be making tax dollars stretch as far as possible to provide as many good, solid services for people as possible and I don’t think this is the most efficient way to do that.”

Since 1987, Ohio voters have approved four bond measures to fund SCIP. Explore Ohio’s full ballot measure history, including the history of previous bond measures, and how Issue 2 fits into Ohio’s ballot measure landscape. You can also check out more information on Issue 2 here.

Ballotpedia Fellows Program: Applications Now Open!

Applications are now open for the Summer 2025 Ballotpedia Fellows Program, a flexible, remote opportunity for individuals interested in supporting informed voting and building research experience.

Fellows help expand Ballotpedia’s nonpartisan, fact-based coverage of local elections by researching candidates and collecting key data that informs millions of voters. In Spring 2025 alone, Fellows researched more than 18,000 local candidates, and we’re aiming even higher this summer!

“The Ballotpedia Fellowship Program was an informative experience that allowed me to do my part in solving the misinformation crisis among voters, without having to sacrifice my other commitments. I would highly recommend it for anyone who has some extra time on their hands, and I am looking forward to working with Ballotpedia in the future!”
— Kayla, Spring 2025 Fellow

The program runs from Monday, July 14 through Friday, September 12 and requires a commitment of 5 to 10 hours per week, which Fellows can schedule at their convenience. All work is conducted remotely. Participation can qualify for community service hours, and eligible Fellows may request recognition through the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your civic engagement or know someone who might be, we encourage you to apply or share this opportunity with your network.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so be sure to apply by Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and feel free to share this opportunity with friends, colleagues, or students who might be interested!