The halls of Congress are emptying out at an alarming rate, and the reasons why should concern every American who values stable governance.
Over 40 House members are planning their exit from Congress this year, creating a precarious situation for Speaker Mike Johnson and his razor-thin majority. But this is not just about political arithmetic. This exodus reflects something far more troubling about the state of our republic.
The numbers tell a sobering story. By this point in 2023, 36 members had departed. In 2021, it was 34. Back in 2017, the number reached 46. What we are witnessing is not an aberration but a pattern, and patterns demand explanation.
The reasons members are citing paint a picture of an institution under siege, both literally and figuratively. Surging threats against lawmakers, their families, and their staff have become commonplace. These are not idle concerns. The question many representatives are asking themselves is fundamental and frightening: Is this job worth putting my loved ones at risk?
Beyond the security concerns, there is the matter of institutional dysfunction. The House sat idle for nearly two months during the recent government shutdown. When lawmakers finally returned to work, they immediately faced five separate efforts to rebuke or discipline their colleagues. This is not governing. This is chaos masquerading as democracy.
The breakdown in civility has reached levels that would have been unthinkable a generation ago. Members report dwindling enthusiasm for the work itself, which raises a critical question: When the people’s representatives no longer wish to represent the people, what does that say about the health of our democratic institutions?
Speaker Johnson maintains that he does not expect additional resignations in the near term. One hopes his optimism is warranted, but hope is not a strategy. History offers a stark warning: parties that experience higher rates of pre-election departures typically lose seats in the subsequent election, and in some cases, they lose their majority entirely.
The recent special election in Tennessee has only heightened concerns about what these departures might mean for the balance of power. Each vacant seat represents not just a missing vote but a district left temporarily without full representation.
The implications extend beyond partisan politics. When experienced legislators leave in droves, institutional knowledge walks out the door with them. The complex machinery of legislation requires expertise, relationships, and understanding of procedure. These are not qualities that can be quickly replaced.
Some members have been conspicuously absent even before officially departing. Campaign commitments and future political ambitions have led to voting absences that leave constituents effectively voiceless on critical matters before the House.
The American people deserve better than a Congress in constant flux, where members are looking for the exits rather than solutions. They deserve representatives who feel safe enough to do their jobs and committed enough to see their work through.
This congressional exodus is a symptom of deeper maladies affecting our political system. Until we address the root causes—the threats, the incivility, the dysfunction—we can expect this troubling trend to continue, regardless of which party holds the gavel.
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