California US Rep. Darrell Issa to retire in move that raises stakes for GOP holding House control
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Sept. 20, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Credit: AP/Jacquelyn Martin
LOS ANGELES — Just three months after declaring “I’m not quitting,” California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa announced Friday he is retiring instead of facing a difficult reelection campaign in a redrawn district.
“It's the right time for a new chapter and new challenges,” Issa said in a statement.
“Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life.”
Issa, a car alarm magnate considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress, had been a chief antagonist for President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while he served as chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, from 2011 to early 2015.
Issa's abrupt reversal injects more uncertainty in the race for Southern California's 48th District, which was drastically reshaped in November after voters approved a new U.S. House map for California to favor Democrats.
With an incumbent out of the running, it may be harder for Republicans to hold the seat and, by extension, the party's fragile majority in the House.
After redistricting, Issa flirted with the idea of leaving California to run for Congress in Texas. But at the time he decided to stay put in his home state.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks with reporters following a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 14, 2023. Credit: AP/J. Scott Applewhite
“I can hold this seat. I’m not quitting on California and neither should anyone else,” Issa, who represents a district anchored in San Diego County, said in a statement at the time.
California's new congressional map, which was spearheaded by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, is intended to tip as many as five Republican-held seats to Democrats this year to offset President Donald Trump's push in Texas to gain five seats for his party there.
A national battle to redraw U.S. House districts for partisan advantage is still raging in some states ahead of the November midterm elections.
Voters in Texas and North Carolina already have cast ballots in primary elections for U.S. House districts redrawn at Trump’s urging. But the final boundaries for voting districts remain uncertain in Missouri, even though candidates already are filing for office. They also are unclear in Virginia, where new congressional districts could hinge both on a voter referendum and court rulings.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks with reporters following a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 14, 2023. Credit: AP/J. Scott Applewhite
In his statement, Issa said he was endorsing San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond to succeed him.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 25: Wrestling and hockey state championships On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay recap all the state wrestling action from Albany this past weekend, plus Jared Valluzzi has the ice hockey championship results from Binghamton.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 25: Wrestling and hockey state championships On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay recap all the state wrestling action from Albany this past weekend, plus Jared Valluzzi has the ice hockey championship results from Binghamton.
