Author: Briana Ryan
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Fifty-five members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026
As of Jan. 12, 55 members of Congress — 46 representatives and nine senators — have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. That’s the most retirement announcements at this point in an election cycle since 2018. Since our Dec. 17 update, four representatives and one senator announced they will not seek re-election. Here’s…
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Doug LaMalfa’s death leaves California’s 1st Congressional District vacant
On Jan. 6, 2026, Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) died, leaving California's 1st Congressional District vacant. According to NBC News' Scott Wong and Kyle Stewart, LaMalfa died in surgery following a medical emergency at his residence. The vacancy now brings the Republican majority in the chamber to 218 to 213, with four vacancies. LaMalfa’s electoral history in…
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Rep. Steny Hoyer becomes the 45th U.S. House member who is not seeking re-election in 2026
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced on Jan. 7, 2026, that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. In a speech announcing his retirement, Hoyer said, “I stand here now after some 60 years in public service, including nearly 45 years as a Member of this House. I’ve won elections…
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Rep. Julia Brownley becomes the 46th U.S. House member who is not seeking re-election in 2026
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) announced on Jan. 8, 2026, that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. In a statement announcing her retirement, Brownley wrote, “Serving our community and our country has been the honor of my lifetime. Every step of this journey has been shaped by the people…
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Twelve candidates are running in the special Democratic primary for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District
Twelve candidates are running in the special Democratic primary for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District on Feb. 5, 2026. John Bartlett (D), Brendan Gill (D), Tom Malinowski (D), Analilia Mejia (D), and Tahesha Way (D) lead in endorsements and media attention. The previous incumbent, Mikie Sherrill, resigned on Nov. 20, 2025, following her election as New Jersey's 57th governor. The New York Times' Tracey Tully wrote that "the heightened…
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Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation leaves Georgia’s 14th Congressional District vacant
On Jan. 5, 2026, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives, leaving Georgia’s 14th Congressional District vacant. Following Greene’s announcement that she would resign, CBS News’ Joe Walsh wrote that it came “after a weekslong falling-out with President [Donald] Trump and much of her party.” In a statement, Greene wrote, “I…
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Rep. Harriet Hageman becomes the 14th U.S. House member to run for U.S. Senate in 2026
Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) announced on Dec. 23, 2025, that she will run for U.S. Senate in 2026 rather than running for another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat is open after incumbent Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R) announced she would not seek re-election. As of Dec. 16, 2025, independent race forecasters The…
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Sen. Cynthia Lummis becomes the ninth U.S. senator to announce she won't seek re-election in 2026
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) announced on Dec. 19, 2025, that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026. Lummis posted on X, “Deciding not to run for reelection does represent a change of heart for me, but in the difficult, exhausting session weeks this fall I’ve come to accept that I do…