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Rep. Cleo Fields becomes the 59th U.S. representative to announce he won’t seek re-election in 2026

By

Briana Ryan

Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.) announced on July 21, 2026, that he will run in the special election for District 14 in the Louisiana Senate rather than for another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Fields previously represented the district from 1988 to 1993, from 1997 to 2008, and from 2020 to 2025.

According to the Louisiana Illuminator, Fields' decision came "after the Louisiana Legislature revised the state's House districts to favor a Republican candidate."

As of Aug. 4, 2026, independent race forecasters The Cook Political Report rated the 2026 general election for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District as Solid Republican. DDHQ/The Hill and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it as Safe Republican. Inside Elections rated it as Solid Democratic.

In a statement, Fields wrote, "I feel my calling to serve the people is better put to use back home than here in D.C., and I intend to answer that."

In 2024, Fields and four other candidates ran in the nonpartisan primary for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. Fields defeated second-place finisher Elbert Guillory (R) 50.8% to 37.7%. Fields previously represented Louisiana's 4th Congressional District from 1993 to 1997.

As of July 21, 2026, Fields is one of 70 members of the U.S. Congress — 11 U.S. Senate members and 59 U.S. House members — who have announced they will not seek re-election to their current seats in 2026.

Of the 59 U.S. House incumbents who are not seeking re-election:

  • Thirty-one — 15 Democrats and 16 Republicans — are retiring from public office.
  • Sixteen — seven Democrats and nine Republicans — are running for the U.S. Senate.
  • Ten — all Republicans — are running for governor.
  • One Republican is running for state attorney general.
  • One Democrat is running for a state legislative district.

Compared to the last four election cycles, there were 45 retirement announcements at this point in 2024, 49 in 2022, 36 in 2020, and 52 in 2018. 

Between January 2011 and July 2026, Ballotpedia tracked 362 announcements by U.S. House members that they would not seek re-election. January had the highest number of members announcing they would not run for re-election at 62. The fewest announcements took place in June at 15.