The surprise retirement announcements last week from Republican Reps. Gregg Harper of Mississippi and Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania have brought the number of GOP lawmakers leaving the House – either retiring, resigning or seeking another office – to a whopping 34.
Coupled with the 21 Democrats leaving the House for different reasons, the 55 who won't be coming back are an unusually high number, Congress-watchers agree. The usual number of lawmakers who step down is roughly 22.
As in most of the now-open Republican districts, the GOP is expected to easily retain both districts. Shuster, who succeeded his 28-year congressman-father Bud in 2000, narrowly escaped defeat in the '16 primary. As chairman of the powerful House Transportation Committee, his "pork-barrel" style politics was widely disliked by the growing anti-government tea party movement. Last year, Shuster barely staved off defeat at the hands of U.S. Navy veteran and tea party favorite Art Halvorson.
Halvorson said he is running again, but most bets in Pennsylvania's 9th District are on State Sen. John Eichelberger. A strong conservative who gets high marks from the tea party, Eichelberger told reporters he is too busy with legislation in Harrisburg and has not made up his mind.
Five-termer Harper's decision to leave Congress spells a crowded Republican free-for-all in Mississippi's 3rd District. Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest has already said he is running, and Circuit Judge Jeff Weill, Sr., has hinted he will get in the Republican race as well. Both are considered strong conservatives.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.