More than 40 members of the House have announced plans to leave Congress this year, a level of turnover that threatens Speaker Mike Johnson’s already narrow majority and highlights a broader shift on Capitol Hill, driven by growing safety concerns, fraying civility and diminishing enthusiasm for the job.
Recent election cycles have seen similar instability: by this point in 2023, 36 lawmakers had departed, compared with 34 in 2021 and 46 in 2017.
The House was effectively sidelined for nearly two months during the government shutdown, leaving major legislative work on hold. When lawmakers finally returned, they were immediately confronted with a series of internal clashes, including five separate efforts to censure, oust or otherwise discipline colleagues.
Yet dissatisfaction with leadership is only part of the story. Escalating threats against lawmakers, their families and their staff have led many to question whether remaining in Congress is worth the personal toll.
History suggests that the party with the larger wave of pre-election departures often pays a price at the ballot box, losing seats—and in some cases its majority.
Johnson has downplayed the prospect of a broader exodus, insisting that members should see their commitments through. “You have a duty here when you run for office, run for a two-year term, you know, you should stay and fulfill that,” he said.
Even so, Fox News has been told that a number of unhappy Republicans are still weighing whether to step down before their terms are up.
