New York Rep. Kathleen Riche won’t be seeking reelection, making her the 30th Democrat to do so.
QUICK FACTS:
- New York’s Kathleen Rice (D-NY) won’t be seeking reelection to her seat in the House of Representatives, according to The New York Post.
- Rice made her announcement Tuesday, making her the 30th Democrat to not seek re-election for Congress in the 2022 midterm elections.
- The House Democrat said in her statement that when reflecting on her life in public service it was the “honor of [her] life” to serve the people of New York.
- Rice was elected to the House in 2014 and served on multiple committees, including Homeland Security Committee as well as the Committee on Energy and Commerce, according to the Post.
- She previously served as the assistant district attorney in Brooklyn before being appointed as an assistant US attorney in 1999. She later served as the first woman elected as the district attorney of Nassau County.
RICE’S PUBLIC STATEMENT:
- “I entered public service 30 years ago and never left. It has been the honor of my life to serve as a prosecutor, district attorney, and US Representative in my beloved home state of New York,” she wrote.
- “I have always believed that holding political office is neither destiny nor a right. As elected officials, we must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve. Though I will not be running for re-election to Congress this year, I will remain focused on protecting our democracy and serving my constituents throughout the rest of my terms,” Rice continued.
- “As I turn to the next chapter in my own personal and professional story, I do so with profound thanks to the community leaders, colleagues, and staff who have lived our shared commitment to service with courage and humility.”
BACKGROUND:
- There have now been 30 House Democrats who have announced that they won’t run for re-election, 22 of which are retiring from Public service altogether, according to the House Casualty List.
- Four of the 30 are running for US Senate and another four are seeking office elsewhere following their stint as representatives.
- Only 13 Republicans are making the same decision and leaving office, which means Republicans will only have to gain six seats of the 30 departing Democrats to gain the majority in the House, according to Ballotpedia.
