Key facts
- Several incumbent lawmakers lost their primary elections this year due to factors including district redrawing, personal scandals, and unsuccessful bids for higher office.
- Reps. Steve Cohen, Lloyd Doggett, and Cleo Fields retired after their districts were dismantled by Republicans.
- Reps. Darrell Issa and Burgess Owens retired after their districts were redrawn.
- Rep. Kevin Kiley opposed mid-decade gerrymanders and switched from GOP to independent after his district was redrawn.
- Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his run for California governor and exited Congress amid allegations.
- Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned after admitting to an affair with a staffer.
- Rep. Andy Ogles faced controversies, a redrawn district, and outside spending.
- Rep. Cory Mills faced probes of his conduct.
- Several congressional Democrats lost statewide primaries to rivals without Washington ties.
- Reps. Randy Feenstra, Dusty Johnson, Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman, and Chip Roy lost bids for higher office.
Incumbent lawmakers have faced significant challenges in this year's primary elections, with many losing their seats due to a confluence of factors including district redrawing, personal scandals, and unsuccessful attempts to move to higher office. Several representatives chose to retire rather than contend with these uphill battles.
District redrawing played a role in several retirements. Democratic Reps. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Lloyd Doggett of Texas, and Cleo Fields of Louisiana retired after Republicans dismantled their districts. GOP Reps. Darrell Issa of California and Burgess Owens of Utah also retired following similar redistricting changes. California Rep. Kevin Kiley, who opposed the mid-decade gerrymanders and switched from GOP to independent after his district was redrawn, described the new maps as having unleashed "chaos" on the House and "reduced the quality of representation in Congress."
Scandal also contributed to incumbents' downfall. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his congressional tenure amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) resigned his seat after admitting to an affair with a staffer. Tennessee GOP Rep. Andy Ogles faced challenges from past controversies, a newly redrawn district, and outside spending, despite a Trump endorsement. Republican Florida Rep. Cory Mills encountered attacks over probes into his conduct. His primary challenger, Ryan Elijah, stated that "trust was a factor" in the race, suggesting that controversies collided with voters' anti-incumbent sentiment.
Several congressional Democrats also faltered in their bids for higher office. Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) lost statewide primaries to opponents without Washington ties. Similarly, GOP representatives seeking higher office also faced voter rejection. Reps. Randy Feenstra of Iowa, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman of South Carolina all lost their gubernatorial bids. Norman was rejected twice, also losing a primary for Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat to a political newcomer. Texas Rep. Chip Roy lost a runoff for state attorney general.