A top centrist House Democrat in the New Democrat Coalition is retiring after 12 years in Congress, becoming the latest in a long line of Democrats and Republicans who are leaving Capitol Hill after the 2024 elections.
Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) announced in a statement on Wednesday that she would not seek reelection this November and would leave the House as New Hampshire‘s 2nd District representative after the 118th Congress concludes.
“This work has been many things — rewarding, frustrating, inspiring, and challenging,” Kuster said. “But, more than anything, it has been an honor.”
Kuster chaired the powerful New Democrat Coalition, a centrist, pro-business caucus, and is known for working across the aisle on key issues in a time when Congress has proven to be narrowly divided and plagued by infighting. She was the founder and co-chairwoman of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force and the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence as well.
“When I was first elected to Congress in 2012, I promised to bring a new approach to Washington,” the New Hampshire congresswoman said. “Over the past 12 years, I have been proud to do just that.”
“As chair of the New Democrat Coalition, I have helped bridge the partisan divide and find commonsense solutions to the biggest issues facing our country,” Kuster continued. “While there is still more to be done, we have made great progress.”
Altogether, 46 members of Congress are retiring or seeking other offices as of Wednesday, per the House Press Gallery. Kuster became the 25th House Democrat to announce she is leaving the House, joining the 21 Republicans who are doing the same. Of those retiring on both sides of the aisle, more Democrats are seeking other offices than Republicans.
The New Hampshire Democrat’s retirement will set off an open race for the 2nd Congressional District, one of New Hampshire’s most competitive districts. Kuster’s district leans Democratic by 2 points, according to the CookPoliticalReport. Her decision to depart from Congress could set off a fiery contest and give Republicans an opportunity to flip the seat red in November — a win they desperately need to maintain their razor-thin House majority.
Kuster did not mention any successors in her retirement announcement, thanking her family and the people of New Hampshire instead.
“It’s the honor of my life to represent my home and my community, bringing our Granite State values and the voices of New Hampshire’s Second District to Congress,” Kuster said.
Kuster’s retirement comes in the wake of national turmoil with the Democratic Party in New Hampshire after the Democratic National Committee restructured its 2024 presidential nominating calendar and effectively booted the Granite State from holding the first-in-the-nation primary election for the first time in 100 years. Citing the DNC rules, President Joe Biden did not campaign in the state, but he still handily won the January primary thanks to a write-in effort.
Altogether, 46 members of Congress are retiring or seeking other offices as of Wednesday, per the House Press Gallery. Kuster became the 25th House Democrat to announce she is leaving the House, joining the 21 Republicans who are doing the same. Of those retiring on both sides of the aisle, more Democrats are seeking other offices than Republicans. (SCARY TO THINK DEMOCRATS ARE SEEKING MORE OFFICES ESPECIALLY KNOWING THE INSANITY WE ALL HAVE BEEN WITNESSING OF RECENT KNOWING O’BIDEN IS RUNNING THIS SHITSHOW POSSE)