LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa made a surprising announcement Friday that he will not seek reelection, abandoning his earlier pledge to fight for his seat in a newly redrawn district.
“It’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges,” Issa stated. “Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life.”
The wealthy former car alarm executive, ranked among Congress’s richest members, gained prominence as a fierce critic of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his tenure leading the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Issa’s unexpected decision adds complications to the battle for Southern California’s 48th District, which underwent significant boundary changes last November when California voters approved new congressional maps designed to benefit Democrats.
Without an incumbent candidate, Republicans face greater challenges in defending the seat, potentially threatening the party’s narrow House majority.
Following the redistricting process, Issa had contemplated relocating to Texas to pursue a congressional seat there but ultimately chose to remain in California.
“I can hold this seat. I’m not quitting on California and neither should anyone else,” the San Diego County-based representative had declared in an earlier statement.
The revised congressional boundaries, championed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, aim to flip up to five GOP-controlled seats to Democratic hands this election cycle, countering President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure five additional Republican seats in Texas.
