Rep. Jim Renacci, who is leaving Washington to run for governor back in his home state, said Monday he made his decision because he's frustrated after six and one-half years, with many of the career politicians in the nation's capital.
"I'm the type of person in business that likes to get things done, big things done," the Ohio Republican lawmaker told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program. "I'm frustrated with too many of the career politicians that are there. They continue to drive policy based on elections not future generations, and, you know, for me I've learned a lot. I got to tell you."
Renacci said he's learned during his time in Washington that politics gets in the way of every major decision, and that is a problem.
"Washington doesn't work because too often people are making decisions based on the next election," Renacci told the program. "I learned that in the first year when I got there when we started talking about the next presidential election, next Senate election. We should be talking about getting things accomplished for the American people. It's a frustration for me."
Renacci, a member of the House Ways and Committee, said he started a bipartisan breakfast his first year, and people who attend and learn from each other, even if they don't always agree.
"At least I understand the direction they want to take," he said. "It's funny when you talk on both sides, we want to get to the same place, it's just how we get there. There are some extremes."
When asked if President Donald Trump makes it more difficult for Republicans running in 2018, Renacci said he supported the president and in Ohio, "Republicans love" him.
"Democrats don't like the president," said Renacci. "We have this mixed bag. In Ohio, people like the president. He's still a little unfiltered. That's okay."
Republicans also believe Trump is speaking what they are think on North Korea, said Renacci, pointing out that the president is not a career politician.
"I always look back where we're at today is because we let career politicians take us to this place, so we've got to break that system," he said. "He may say things a little different from me, but I understand why he's doing it."
People in Ohio, Renacci added, are concerned that North Korea has gotten as far as it has, and that the United States has been quiet on the matter all these years.
"In many cases they like the idea," he said. "Remember I'm coming from blue collar union supporters of President Trump who are saying [they're] happy that he's doing what he's doing. I don't see any fallout in Ohio. There's big support for this president doing what he said he's going to do."