Rep. Mark Meadows, Staunch Trump Ally, Won’t Seek Reelection in 2020

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) at the CPAC convention in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 28, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) joined the wave of Republican House members who won’t seek reelection, but indicated he intends to continue political work.

“For everything there is a season. After prayerful consideration and discussion with family, today I’m announcing that my time serving Western North Carolina in Congress will come to a close at the end of this term. This was a decision I struggled with greatly," he said in a statement early on Dec. 19.

“These last 8 years, I have been so blessed to serve the people of NC-11 and help give a voice to millions of Americans who feel Washington, DC has forgotten them.”

Meadows is known as one of Republican President Donald Trump’s strongest allies in the House. He celebrated the accomplishments of the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for Game 5 of the World Series baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington on Oct. 27, 2019. Also pictured are Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) (2nd L) and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C) (R). (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

“Since serving alongside President Trump, I have been a witness to historic economic prosperity, unemployment levels I only dreamed of when I took office, tax and regulatory reforms that are putting the American worker first, our Israeli embassy moved to Jerusalem, and trade deals that were once thought impossible,” he said.

“I have seen our law enforcement and first responders receive the support they deserve and our military once again put on a path to maintain its superiority.”

Meadows said that he intends to continue working with Trump and the administration, adding that he is “fully committed to staying in the fight with him and his team.”

“I’ve always said Congress is a temporary job, but the fight to return Washington, DC to its rightful owner, We The People, has only just begun,” he said in the statement.

Meadows, 60, a small-business owner, has represented North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District since 2013. He easily won reelection in 2018, beating challenger Philip Price by more than 61,000 votes.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) speaks to media after FBI agent Peter Paul Strzok arrived for his deposition at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on June 27, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Meadows is the 24th Republican member of the House to announce they wouldn’t seek reelection next year, compared to just nine Democrat House members.

Twenty Republicans and six Democrats are retiring; the others are seeking other offices.

Among them are Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), who is running for president; Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.), who is running for a Senate seat; and Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.), who is running for governor.

Four senators, including three Republican members, also aren’t seeking reelection in 2020. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has also announced he won’t seek reelection in 2022.