## House Members Leaving congress Ahead of 2026

Ahead of next yearS midterms, a number of members from both major parties have already announced they’re heading for the exits, either because they’re seeking higher office, simply aren’t running again, or are leaving the chamber early.Midterm elections are historically tough on the party of the sitting president. With Republicans already hanging onto a razor-thin margin in the U.S. House, tracking the GOP members set to leave the chamber – some of whom have been among President Donald Trump’s top Capitol Hill champions – can provide a window into what work the party has ahead of it in angling to maintain control.

For Democrats seeking to return the House to their party’s hands, retirement announcements are a window of chance.

Congressional retirements can be a key barometer ahead of the midterm elections,an indicator of how much churn could be coming to Capitol Hill in the coming cycle.

Here’s where things stand in the House ahead of 2026, with the members who have announced they’re not planning to return:

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas

Date of declaration: Dec. 5,2025
Reason: Retiring

Doggett,who has represented an Austin-based district for more then three decades,said that he would be departing the House after the end of his current term,citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding the state’s new district map merging two Austin-area districts favorable to Democrats. In 2024, Doggett was the first sitting lawmaker in the party to publicly call for President Joe Biden to step down as the party’s nominee for president, citing biden’s debate performance against Trump failing to “effectively defend his many accomplishments.”

Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas

Date of announcement: Nov. 29, 2025
Reason: Retiring

In his announcement, nehls shared he would be retiring from Congress after three terms and endorsed his twin brother Trever to succeed him. Nehls was first elected to represent the district southwest of Houston in 2020, and was a staunch ally of Trump’s. He was tapped by then-House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy to sit on a select committee probing the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, though McCarthy later pulled all his picks when Democrats refused to seat some of his choices.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.

Date of announcement: Nov. 21, 2025
Reason: Resigning

Greene’s change from Trump loyalist to one of his harshest critics culminated in her surprise announcement that she would end her congressional career in January 2026. Greene’s resignation followed a public falling-out with trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and health care. First elected to represent a deeply conservative seat in northwest Georgia in 2020, she spent her first few terms closely tied to the MAGA movement.

Rep. Eric swalwell, D-Calif.

Date of announcement: Nov. 21, 2025
Reason: Running for governor

A former presidential candidate, Swalwell joined a crowded race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.Swalwell, who also served as a House manager in trump’s first impeachment trial, has represented a northern district that falls east of San Francisco since 2013. His current district’s boundary lines will change slightly due to mid cycle redistricting.## A Wave of Departures: Here’s Who’s Leaving Congress in 2026

A growing number of House members are eyeing higher office or simply calling it quits, setting the stage for a possibly dramatic reshuffling of the congressional landscape in 2026. Here’s a look at some of the key departures announced so far:

Rep. Anna Eshoo,D-Calif.

date of announcement: May 8, 2025

reason: Retiring

the longest-serving woman in california’s congressional delegation, Eshoo announced her retirement after nearly three decades in office. A staunch progressive, she served on the Energy and Commerce Committee throughout the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. She played key roles in both impeaching Trump and encouraging Biden to end his 2024 reelection campaign.

Rep.Jared Golden, D-Maine

Date of announcement: Nov. 5, 2025

Reason: Retiring

After a half-decade of narrow reelections, Golden announced he would be stepping down from one of the most competitive districts in the country. He cited incivility in Congress and threats against his family in a piece in the Bangor Daily News announcing his retirement. Golden,first elected in 2018,is one of the most moderate Democrats in Congress and has shown his willingness to break with his party on issues ranging from impeaching Trump to reopening the government during this fall’s shutdown.

Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa

Date of announcement: Oct. 28, 2025

Reason: Running for governor

iowa’s congressional delegation is reshuffling in light of surprise announcements from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst that neither was seeking reelection in 2026. Between Reynolds’ April announcement and Feenstra’s official announcement, the representative announced millions of dollars in fundraising. Feenstra has represented the state’s northwest quadrant since 2021, after he toppled controversial incumbent Rep. Steve King in the primary. Feenstra’s district is among the most conservative in the state, though Democrats have a few other races they’re eying.

Rep. Seth. Moulton, D-Mass.

Date of announcement: Oct. 15, 2025

Reason: Running for Senate

The six-term representative cited the need for generational change in announcing his challenge to Sen.Ed Markey. Moulton currently represents the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, and has drawn nominal opposition in his heavily Democratic district. Markey beat back a similar challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy in 2020.

Rep.Wesley Hunt, R-Texas

Date of announcement: oct. 6,2025

Reason: Running for Senate

Hunt drew ire from senate Republican leadership for taking on Sen. John Cornyn in what party leaders fear will become an expensive, messy primary. cornyn’s cool relationship with Trump has drawn another candidate beyond the two-term Houston-area congressman, controversial Texas attorney general Ken Paxton. Both are running on their relationship to Trump. Hunt’s runs deep: He was the first Republican to endorse him after the former president’s 2022 comeback campaign announcement, and he gave a prime-time speech on opening night of the 2024 republican National Convention in## House Exodus: A Look at Members leaving Congress in 2025

A growing number of House members are announcing they won’t seek reelection in 2026, either to pursue other offices or to retire. Here’s a look at who’s leaving and why:

Rep. ken Buck,R-Colo.

date of announcement: March 22, 2025

Reason: Retiring

Buck’s departure created an early vacancy in Colorado’s 4th District, triggering a special election.A vocal critic of his party’s direction, particularly after the ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Buck announced his retirement earlier than planned. He served on the panel after Republicans won House leadership. He stepped down from that role late last year.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas

Date of announcement: Aug. 21, 2025

Reason: Running for Texas attorney general

After four terms in the U.S. House, and years of challenging party leadership as a prominent member of the house Freedom Caucus, Roy announced he would run to succeed Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for Senate next year.Roy has represented a district just north of San Antonio since 2019. While he’s known as a fiscal conservative, his relationship with Trump has been complex at times as one of the few Republicans who initially pushed back against Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Rep. Barry Moore,R-Ala.

date of announcement: Aug. 12,2025

Reason: Running for Senate

Moore joined the small House Freedom Caucus exodus of retirements when he announced he would not seek a fourth term in the U.S.House and rather run to succeed Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Tuberville is running for governor of Alabama. Moore’s campaign launch underscored his ties to trump. In it,he promised to “defend the MAGA agenda in the Senate.”

Rep. nancy Mace, R-S.C.

Date of announcement: Aug. 4, 2025

Reason: Running for governor

Mace represents South Carolina’s 1st District, and with the exception of a single term, it’s been in GOP hands for decades. And thanks to redistricting following the 2020 census, it’s considered to be more friendly to Republicans. Mace, who worked for Trump’s 2016 campaign, was first elected to the House in 2020. She has largely supported him, even though her criticism against him following the Jan. 6, 2021, violence at the U.S. Capitol spurred Trump to back a GOP challenger in her 2022 race. Mace defeated that opponent, won reelection and was endorsed by Trump in her 2024 campaign.

Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill.

Date of announcement: July 31, 2025

Reason: Retiring

After 15 terms, Davis became the second longtime illinois representative to announce his retirement from office. At the time of his announcement, two others had also said they would seek an open Senate seat. Davis’s district, a solidly Democratic piece of Chicago, includes large sections of the city’s south and west sides. In recent years, he had fended off concerns over his age and closer primaries than in years prior.

Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.

Date of announcement: july 28, 2025

reason: Running for Senate

Collins joined fellow Georgia house delegation member Buddy Carter in seeking to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in what will become one of the most closely watched Senate contests of 2026. Collins will leave Congress after two terms representing a district east of Atlanta. He won his 2022 race in part by portraying himself as an everyman trucker and hard-core Donald Trump acolyte.

Rep. Ralph Norman,R-S.C.

Date of announcement: July 25, 2025

Reason: Running for governor

Norman announced he would join an already crowded

House Members leaving Seats to Run for Higher Office

Several House members are vying for diffrent positions, creating potential shakeups in the upcoming elections. These departures will undoubtedly impact the balance of power in Congress.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va.

Date of announcement: April 22, 2025

Reason: Running for governor

Spanberger won reelection by a 13-point margin in 2024 – and could conceivably become competitive again with her out.

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich.

Date of announcement: April 22,2025

Reason: Running for Senate

Stevens sailed to victory in her last election representing Michigan’s Oakland County,a key voting block in the battleground state. She flipped what had been a reliably Republican seat in 2018 and narrowly defeated her 2020 opponent in 2020. After that, she cruised to reelection in 2022 and 2024 after her district was redrawn and became more favorable to Democrats.

Rep. Andy barr,R-Ky.

Date of announcement: April 22, 2025

Reason: Running for Senate

Barr defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2012 and has been reelected by wide margins ever since, with one exception. Now, he’s entered the robust 2026 primary to succeed retiring Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell. Barr’s decision not to return to the house sets up what Democrats see as a potential pick-up opportunity.Democrats have signaled they plan to target Barr’s seat, among others, in trying to win back the House next year. Republicans dismiss this, saying the Lexington-area district is more GOP-friendly following the last round of redistricting.

Rep. John James, R-Mich.

Date of announcement: April 7, 2025

Reason: Running for governor

James’ April 2025 announcement – just months into his second term – that he’s running to replace term-limited Michigan Gov. Gretchen whitmer leaves open one of the nation’s most competitive congressional seats.