Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) announced on Thursday his intention to retire at the end of his term this year, making him the latest member of Congress to choose not to run for reelection.
Mr. Luetkemeyer, who also served as a chairman of the Financial Services Committee on National Security, said he decided not to seek reelection after having “a lot of thoughtful discussion” with his family.
“It has been as honor to serve the great people of the Third Congressional District and State of Missouri these past several years,” the eight-term congressman said in a press release on Jan. 4.
“However, after a lot of thoughtful discussion with my family, I have decided to not file for reelection and retire at the end of my term in December.
“Over the coming months, as I finish up my last term, I look forward to continuing to work with all my constituents on their myriad of issues as well as work on the many difficult and serious problems confronting our great country. There is still a lot to do,” he added.
Given the many challenges facing the United States at present, Mr. Luetkemeyer said the greatness of the country lies within “the hearts and homes of our people” and not in the halls of Congress.
“That assessment is still true today,” he remarked.
Mr. Luetkemeyer has represented the Third Congressional District of Missouri in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2009.
He also served on the Illicit Finance and the International Financial Institutions committees, as well as on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the House Small Business Committee.
Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman took to X expressing her interest to replace Mr. Luetkemeyer, whom she praised as “a statesman” and “a good and decent man.”
“I am grateful for his public service and wish him all the best in his retirement,” Ms. Coleman wrote.
Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) said that Mr. Luetkemeyer has been “a leader for Missouri and a tireless advocate for his constituents.”
Growing Number of Exodus
Mr. Luetkemeyer joins a number of lawmakers who have decided not to seek reelection. At least 16 Republicans and 25 Democrats have announced their intention to step down or retire, according to reports.Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) became only the third lawmaker to be expelled by colleagues since the Civil War. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was the first-ever House speaker removed from that office by his colleagues. He opted to leave effective Dec. 31 rather than serve among the rank-and-file.
The Washington seat is expected to remain in Democrat control, but the open Virginia seat, representing the state’s Seventh Congressional District, is one eyed by Republicans as a pick-up opportunity.
Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Pat Fallon (R-Texas), and Michael Burgess (R-Texas) also recently announced they would not run for additional terms.
Some senators, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), are also stepping down at the end of the current Congress. In 2022, 49 members did not run for additional terms; 31 were Democrats.
Democrats are also losing six-term Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan to retirement, leaving them with another competitive open seat to defend in a state that will be crucial in the presidential election. Though a successful surgery left Mr. Kildee cancer-free, he said that he wants to spend more time with his family.
Republicans flipped control of the lower chamber in the midterms, but were unable to secure control of the upper chamber. Other members have or plan to leave Congress before the next term.
