The Daily Populous Sunday April 28th, 2024 morning edition
Authored by thehill.com and submitted by FreeChickenDinner

Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) announced Friday that he is retiring at the end of this year, adding to a wave of congressional retirements.

“It has been the greatest honor of Katie’s and my life to represent you in Congress,” Posey said in a statement. “And, polls suggest that because of YOUR support, I could remain in the job forever, and we were looking forward to another spirited campaign for a final term in office.”

“However, earlier this week circumstances beyond my control now require me to suspect my re-election campaign,” he added.

Posey, 76, has represented Florida’s 8th Congressional District since 2008. According to Cook Political Report, the district is solidly Republican.

The Florida lawmaker said he looks forward to helping former President Trump get reelected and said his goal was to see state Senate President Mike Haridopolos replace him in the House.

“For many years, Mike has served as my Congressional Finance Committee Chairman, while I have mentored him to replace me,” Posey said. “Mike was, and remains, my first choice to represent you, me, and our district in Congress.”

Without going into a lot of personal details, stars aligned during the past week and Mike decided he was ready for Congress,” he continued, highlighting Haridopolos’s conservative values and strong work ethic. “I enthusiastically endorse him and will do everything I can to help him get elected.”

Posey’s announcement comes after a slew of other GOP lawmakers announced they would also not seek reelection in 2024, and others — such as former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and former Reps. Mike Gallagher (Ill.) and Ken Buck (Colo.) — who left Congress before the end of the term.

While Posey didn’t mention what it was like within the House in his announcement, many of the Republicans leaving office voiced a common theme for their departure: the toxicity of Capitol Hill.

metalhead82 on April 27th, 2024 at 20:59 UTC »

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

FlyingDiscsandJams on April 27th, 2024 at 20:46 UTC »

Eh, this guy is 76 years old, was just fighting Ukraine aid last week, and is trying to get the despicable & dangerous Florida State Senate President to take his seat. I'm guessing this is a medical retirement, not any change in his conscience.

PopeHonkersXII on April 27th, 2024 at 20:23 UTC »

All of these Republicans are retiring because they know it's going to be a massive red wave this year and the beginning of the MAGA revolution is upon us. Right?

That was sarcasm in case it wasn't clear. Trump and the GOP are fucked and these people know it