LOS ANGELES (AP) — Just three months after declaring “I’m not resigning,” Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., announced Friday that he will retire rather than face a tough re-election campaign in a redrawn district.
“Now is the perfect time to start a new chapter and take on new challenges,” Issa said in a statement.
“Serving in Congress has been the honor of a lifetime.”
Issa, a car-alarm giant who is considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress, was a primary opponent of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when he served as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2011 to early 2015.
Issa’s sudden reversal creates more uncertainty in the race for Southern California’s 48th House District. The district underwent significant changes in November after voters approved a new U.S. House map in California that favored Democrats.
With incumbents exiting the race, it may be harder for Republicans to hold on to the seat and, by extension, the party’s fragile majority in the House.
After redistricting, Issa toyed with the idea of leaving California to run for Congress in Texas. But at that time he decided to stay in his hometown.
“I can keep this seat. I’m not giving up on California, and neither should anyone else,” Issa, who represents a San Diego County district, said in a statement at the time.
California’s new congressional map, spearheaded by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, aims to cede up to five Republican-controlled seats to Democrats this year, offsetting President Donald Trump’s efforts to win five seats for his party in Texas.
A national battle rages on in some states to redraw U.S. House districts for partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections.
Voters in Texas and North Carolina have already cast their ballots in primaries for redrawn U.S. House districts at Trump’s urging. But the final boundaries of Missouri’s districts remain uncertain, even as candidates have begun filing for office. The situation is also unclear in Virginia, where new congressional districts could depend on voter referendums and court rulings.
Issa said in a statement that he supports San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond to succeed him.
