A top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives is retiring at the end of the current Congress, he announced Dec. 5, joining a growing wave of members who won’t seek another term.
“I will be retiring from Congress at the end of my current term,“ Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said in a statement. ”This is not a decision I come to lightly, but I believe there is a season for everything and—for me—this season has come to an end.”
Mr. McHenry, 48, has represented North Carolina in the House since 2005. He ascended to the top ranks in the GOP, becoming speaker pro tempore, or acting speaker, when Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was removed as speaker in October. Mr. McHenry has also been the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee since 2019.
Mr. McHenry, an ally of Mr. McCarthy, did not outline exactly why he is stepping down. But he said the growing number of members who are retiring to leave public life or seek another post shouldn’t cause worry.
“My family means the world to me. The center of that world is my wife Giulia. Together, we have three amazing kids who have made our lives all the better. I’m grateful for the sacrifices they’ve made supporting me as I’ve served in the House,” Mr. McHenry said.
“There has been a great deal of handwringing and ink spilled about the future of this institution because some—like me—have decided to leave. Those concerns are exaggerated. I’ve seen a lot of change over twenty years. I truly feel this institution is on the verge of the next great turn. Whether it’s 1974, 1994, or 2010, we’ve seen the House evolve over time. Evolutions are often lumpy and disjointed, but at each stage, new leaders emerge. There are many smart and capable members who remain, and others are on their way. I’m confident the House is in good hands,” he added.
Brittany Martinez, a spokeswoman for Mr. McCarthy, said on X that Mr. McHenry “was an incredibly positive light for our team” and that she was “grateful for his decades of public service and for always being a real one.”
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) added: “Patrick McHenry has always been willing to step up as a champion for the American people. During his time as Speaker Pro Tem, he led the House with poise through unprecedented times. I wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.”
Mr. McHenry’s retirement comes weeks after some Republicans floated him as a permanent replacement for Mr. McCarthy, who was ousted in a bipartisan vote. Mr. McHenry declined to vie for the speakership, though, and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) eventually won the post.
Mr. McHenry did make several moves as acting speaker, including ordering former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to vacate an office she kept after leaving the post.
Mr. McHenry represents North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District. He easily won reelection in 2022, garnering 72.6 percent of the vote. He has won at least 70 percent of the vote in each general election for the past decade.
Political handicappers rate the seat as safe Republican.
Before serving in Congress, Mr. McHenry helped campaign for former President George W. Bush, and joined President Bush’s administration as a special assistant to the U.S. secretary of labor.
Other Retirements
Mr. McHenry joins 32 other House members who are retiring. The majority are Democrats.Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), 80, announced recently she would not seek another term. Ms. Eshoo said that she would serve the remainder of her term “with vigor and unswerving commitment” to residents in the district she represents.
Ms. Eshoo has served in Congress for more than three decades.
Rep. Tony Cardenas, 60, also said in November he would be retiring after his term ends in early 2025.
“I believe in the next generation of leaders; I am confident that they will break through the extreme partisanship that has impeded progress and get back to delivering for hardworking Americans,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Cardenas has represented California in the House since 2013.
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), 69, is stepping down in 2024 before his term ends, he said, after being selected to become the next president of Youngstown State University.
“I wasn’t looking for another job, because I love the one I have serving the people of Eastern Ohio in the U.S. House. This was an extremely difficult decision,” Mr. Johnson wrote on X. “This is not a goodbye, however. I will continue serving in the House for several more months, and you will see no let up.”
Mr. Johnson represents Ohio’s 6th Congressional District. He has been a congressman since 2011.
Other retiring members include Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), 63; Jeff Jackson (D-N.C.), 41; and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), 65. Some are running for other offices, such as seats in the U.S. Senate.
Some senators are also retiring. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), 76; Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), 73; and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), 76, are among them.
