Democratic Reps. Mike Doyle and David Price announced Monday they will not seek re-election after serving more than two decades in the House.
The announcements come as House Democrats face a series of challenges in retaining control of the lower chamber of Congress.
Price (D-NC), 81, was first elected in 1986 and serves as chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee and the House Democracy Partnership.
The North Carolina Democrat thanked his constituents and vowed to continue to fight for his district through the end of his term.
“In retiring from a job like the one I hold, one should not expect a complete sense of closure. I take satisfaction in what we have been able to achieve for the Fourth District and North Carolina — from the EPA lab and National Guard headquarters to intercity rail, improved housing, and dozens of community projects,” he said in a statement.
“I am leaving my two positions of leadership, the Chairmanship of the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee and of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), optimistic about the policy course we have set and the foundations we have laid. But as we tell our HDP partners in discussing the realization of democracy, most of what we do remains a work in progress. That is certainly evident now, as we strive to secure long overdue investments in our transportation and housing infrastructure, child care and early childhood education, and other pressing needs.”
Doyle (D-Pa.), 68, is a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, serving as chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
“I believe the time has come to pass the torch to the next generation, this was not an easy decision, and I spent most of this year going back and forth,” he said at a press conference.
Doyle added in a statement that with the redrawing of congressional lines, it felt like a “good transition time for a new member.”
“This is a good transition time for a new member to start in a newly drawn district,” he said. “There are many people who might not consider running if they thought I was going to run, so I want to give them the time and opportunity to do so.”
Both congressmen represent Democratic strongholds, but Republicans argue the retirement announcements signal that members across the aisle anticipate a red wave in the midterms.
The retirement announcements come on the heels of House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) announcing last week he will not seek another term.
“That was an influential post, obviously, it’s hard not to say that that doesn’t look like some writing on the wall,” one senior GOP staffer said of Price’s seat.
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