This surprising retirement announcement just spelled the end of the line for Nancy Pelosi
Democrats found out some more bad news.
Party leaders are in a panic.
And this surprising retirement announcement just spelled the end of the line for Nancy Pelosi.
Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth is the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Yarmuth also hails from a safe Democrat district that Republicans do not seriously contest.
And Democrats do not have seniority rules, meaning Yarmuth could continue on as Budget Committee Chairman in the next Congress.
Even with all that going for him, Yarmuth announced his retirement halfway through his current term.
It's been an incredible journey since my first campaign in 2006 until now. I will continue to fight for Louisville in Washington for another 15 months, and then, I will retire from Congress.
I will have plenty more to say in the months ahead but this is what I want you to know: pic.twitter.com/MXFmWrSTYv
— Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) October 12, 2021
Yarmuth’s retirement sent shivers down the spines of Democrats across the country.
The only reason for a power committee chairman like Yarmuth to head for the exits one year before the midterm elections is because Yarmuth sees which way the political winds are blowing and Yarmuth does not want to serve in the minority.
In 2018, House Speaker Paul Ryan announcing his retirement before the midterms sent the signal to rank-and-file Republicans that the Party elites thought the election was already lost.
Ryan’s surrender helped depress Republican turnout in the midterms and contributed in part to the Democrats win.
Yarmuth’s retirement conveyed a similar message to Democrats that top members of the House expect to lose the majority next November.