House Republicans are confronting a mounting exodus from their ranks.
More than two dozen GOP lawmakers have already announced that they will leave their seats at the end of the term, and senior aides expect that number to climb in the coming weeks as members return home for the holidays and weigh their futures. The churn is complicating Republican efforts to block a potential Democratic wave and protect their fragile House majority.
The reasons behind the exits are varied, and the pattern itself is not new. Historically, the president’s party often sees a spike in retirements during midterm cycles. But the GOP is on pace to match the high levels seen in 2018 — a year when Republicans were swept out of the House — and the trend is causing serious headaches for party leaders trying to shield President Trump from a Democratic-controlled chamber in his final years in office.
Who’s Leaving — and Why It Matters
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) stunned Capitol Hill when she announced she would resign effective Jan. 5, citing deep frustration with her party’s handling of health care, foreign policy and other issues. Her decision reflects a broader pattern: so far, 23 House Republicans are retiring or running for another office, and four more have opted to resign early. By comparison, 17 Democrats are stepping aside or seeking different positions.
The departing Republicans span the ideological spectrum. They include high-profile conservatives such as Texas Reps. Chip Roy, Jodey Arrington and Michael McCaul, as well as battle-tested moderates like Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who has repeatedly won reelection in a competitive swing district.
By this point in the 2018 midterm cycle — Trump’s first term — 20 House Republicans had announced they would not seek reelection, while six had already left office or announced early resignations, according to Ballotpedia data. Those figures are now roughly mirrored in the current cycle.
In total, during the 2018 cycle, 34 House Republicans did not run again and 14 resigned midterm. Democrats went on to flip the House that November.
“Ultimately, the number of Republican retirements that we see compared to 2018 — I would imagine it would be close to the same number when all is said and done,” said Erin Covey, House editor at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Burnout, Battlegrounds and New Ambitions
Inside the conference, some Republicans say they are not shocked by the turnover.
“I’ve been here five terms now, and every, you know, basically midterm cycle, you continue to see that play out where, you know, there’s people that step aside. Some just — they’ve been here long enough, and they’ve decided they had enough,” Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) said.
“Some are tired of having to fight the swing districts that they’ve had. There’s a myriad of reasons. And some are just trying to move on to, you know, something that they might consider more fulfilling,” he added.
Bacon said last month that it ultimately comes down to motivation. “If you’re not fired up about winning, that’s time to move on. And that’s how I felt,” he explained.
Frustration with leadership and legislative gridlock has also fueled departures. Recent months in the House have been marked by chaos over spending bills, leadership battles and stalled priorities, leaving many members questioning what they can realistically accomplish.
Greene, in her resignation statement, argued that nothing improves for ordinary Americans “no matter which way the political pendulum swings.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said disillusionment is widespread in his party.
“Everybody in the Republican Party, with the exception of just a few, are consigned to be automatons,” Massie told The Hill. “They just have to do whatever Trump wants them to do. What fun is that, if you’re an adult? Most of my colleagues are successful people who worked really hard to get here, and then they find out you’re just a rubber stamp for the Speaker who’s a rubber stamp for the president. I don’t blame them for running for another office or going back home.”
Massie has frequently clashed with Trump, most recently outmaneuvering him on legislation compelling the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Dysfunction, Redistricting and Diminished Power
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) pointed to what he described as a “lot of dysfunction” in Congress, citing a 43-day government shutdown and a flurry of partisan censure resolutions.
He also criticized what he sees as the House surrendering some of its own authority, including over tariffs, and bemoaned the ongoing redistricting battles that are reshaping districts for both parties — a fight he said House leaders have been unwilling to confront.
“I do think that there’s maybe some people who say, like, you know, at some point … if they feel like they can’t accomplish the things that they came here to do, then maybe that weighs into their decision. And I think the fact that you have the House of Representative gone for two months, for example, yeah, that makes it harder for people to do the things that they came here to do,” Kiley said.
Beyond politics, Republicans say the job can be personally draining. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) noted that several colleagues are stepping away to spend more time at home with their families after grueling years of travel and long weeks in Washington.
What It Means for 2026
It’s not yet clear whether this level of turnover will tip the balance in the 2026 midterms.
Most of the Republicans leaving are from safely red districts. But there are key exceptions: Bacon’s Nebraska seat is now rated as leaning Democrat, while Rep. David Schweikert’s (R-Ariz.) district is considered a Republican toss-up by the Cook Political Report. Rep. John James’s (R-Mich.) seat leans Republican, and Rep. Ashley Hinson’s (R-Iowa) district is viewed as likely Republican — but none are entirely off the table in a wave election.
Layered on top of that is the redistricting fight, with both parties maneuvering to shore up vulnerable incumbents and carve out new opportunities.
Some Republicans argue that, despite the risks, the churn could refresh the institution.
“Fresh blood is good. … I don’t think people serving for 50 years is a great thing, so I think turnover is a good thing,” Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) said.
Whether that “fresh blood” helps Republicans hold the majority — or fuels another blue wave — will be one of the central questions heading into 2026.
