Congressional Retirements Cause Chaos for Both Parties—for Very Different Reasons

The recent rush of congressional retirements has painted an ugly picture for both parties—for very different reasons.

While both parties are hemorrhaging lawmakers this term—Democrats are losing 24 members, and Republicans are currently out 20—the consensus on Capitol Hill is that the mass exodus of respected, senior GOP members is an embarrassing reflection of a chaotic majority that’s achieved little beyond ousting its own speaker.

A pair of high-profile, mid-term exits last month from Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ken Buck (R-CO), in addition to the slew of retirements from powerful senior members, have cemented the narrative that serving in the House GOP is a miserable fate. Naturally, Democrats are trying to feed into that story, urging voters to show Republicans the door.

Read more at The Daily Beast.