Desertion
As of July 2026, 69 voting members of the U.S. Congress are not seeking re-election. This includes 11 members of ,Senate and 58 members of the House of Representatives. 
That is a big number. Of the 69 total members leaving Congress:
- There are 6 Senate: 6 Republicans (not counting Lindsey Graham, who passed away – placing his seat in peril. Mitch McConnell will not return)
- 5 Democrats are also leaving, (including independents caucusing with Democrats).
- House of Representatives: 36 Republicans and 22 Democrats, are bailing out.
In total, 42 Republicans and 27 Democrats are not seeking re-election.
Tariffs played a major role in the last fit of congressional carnage. During the Great Depression, lawmakers did not widely choose to retire or resign in the mid-term. Instead, a massive shift in Congress was driven by voters.
In the 1930 and 1932 elections, voters overwhelmingly voted Republicans out of office due to the economic crisis, resulting in a historic loss of nearly 150 Republican seats in the House and Senate.
Unless you are a history buff, it’s likely that you are unaware of the identity shift that took place between the Democrats and the Republicans, mid-century. If you’re one of those died in the wolves this or that, you may not even recognize yourself. Don’t get caught up in CRT, until you do a little reading. Know thyself.
Either the rabbits are scampering to holes, or the rats are deserting the ships.
Stay tuned.