Ukraine-born Rep. Victoria Spartz has made a surprising reversal of her retirement decision and has announced that she will be seeking a third term in Congress. This unexpected move goes against the trend seen in Washington, where many lawmakers have chosen not to run for re-election. Spartz, who is 45 years old, had previously declared her retirement almost a year ago, even passing up the opportunity to run for Senate.
In a statement, Spartz explained her change of heart, saying, “Deciding where your duty lies — family, work, or country, is never an easy task. Earlier last year, I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family.” She continued by emphasizing her understanding of the challenging times faced by the nation and expressed her willingness to continue fighting for her fellow Hoosiers if they and God permit.
Spartz’s decision comes as at least nine Republicans have filed candidate papers to replace her in Indiana’s safely Republican 5th Congressional District. This district encompasses the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. When Spartz initially announced her retirement plans last February, she cited the difficulties of balancing work and family life as a reason for stepping away from politics.
The news of Spartz’s reversal adds to the list of House lawmakers who have chosen not to seek another two-year term. As of now, 40 members of the House, comprising 23 Democrats and 17 Republicans, have decided against running for re-election. Among them, 17 members are seeking higher office or exploring other positions, while the remaining 23 are opting out of public life entirely.
Additionally, seven sitting senators will also leave Congress after the 2024 election. This includes notable figures such as Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). Romney had cited his age and concerns about the productivity of another term in the Senate as reasons for his retirement, while Manchin has been toying with the idea of a presidential run.
While the number of retirements in this election cycle does not break any records, it has exceeded the figures seen in previous years. In both 2020 and 2016, 45 and 40 members of Congress, respectively, chose not to seek re-election. In the midterm years of 2022 and 2018, 55 members retired from Congress.
Spartz’s decision to seek a third term will likely bring relief to Republicans, who currently hold a slim majority of 219-212 in the House. Her presence will be crucial in maintaining their hold on power and advancing their legislative agenda.