Rep. Ed Royce (R-39) has announced he’ll retire when his term is up. Royce is already facing a slew of Democrats lining up to take this seat that’s ripe for the picking after Royce’s votes on the Tax Bill and Healthcare Reform. At least Royce was smart enough to read the Tea Leaves.
From the Washington Post:
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Edward R. Royce said Monday he will not seek reelection this year, adding his name to a growing list of senior Republican lawmakers who have chosen to retire in what is shaping up to be a difficult election year for the GOP.
Royce (R-Calif.), first elected in 1992, is one of eight House Republican chairmen who have announced they will forego a reelection campaign for the House ahead of the midterm elections. Like most of the others, he would have lost his gavel in the next Congress in accordance with party rules that place a three-term limit on a chairman’s service. In a statement, Royce said he wanted to focus on that committee work during his final months in office.
“In this final year of my Foreign Affairs Committee chairmanship, I want to focus fully on the urgent threats facing our nation, including: the brutal, corrupt and dangerous regimes in Pyongyang and Tehran, Vladimir Putin’s continued efforts to weaponize information to fracture western democracies, and growing terrorist threats in Africa and Central Asia,” he said. “With this in mind, and with the support of my wife Marie, I have decided not to seek reelection in November.”
Democrat Phil Janowicz offered this statement to TheLiberalOC:
“Ed Royce’s retirement shows that our movement is working and that he knew he was going to be beaten. The pressure is being felt and we are just getting started. Ed Royce knew he no longer represented the concerns of those living in the 39th and that he would struggle going forward.”
But which Republican runs for his seat?
In no particular order, Young Kim — a former state assembly representative and current candidate for Fourth District Supervisor and a former Royce staffer springs to mind. But so does former State Assembly member Ling Ling Chang. I think its entirely possible termed out BoS supervisor Shawn Nelson tests the waters. Perhaps Supervisor Todd Spitzer might welcome the chance to spit shine Trump’s shoes.
And let’s not forget “Reagan Democrat” Omar Siddiqui, who’s currently running as a Democrat in CD-48 despite living in CD-39 because he likes Royce and thinks Ed’s doing a fine job, will finally realize he’s a Republican and run for Congress close to home as a Republican.
The ripple effect of Royce’s decision must be sending shockwaves into CD-49 and CD-45; I’m sure Mimi Walters is panicking now while Dana Rohracher’s is likely still in denial and still Putin’s favorite Congressman.
Before Royce leaves Congress, perhaps he can call for a real investigation into want went wrong in Niger. Niger is Trump’s Benghazi.
Not one negative word about Royce – I’ll take that as a recognition that Ed is a good and decent man. Thank you.
Royce is a failure for not investigating Niger. He’s a coward
That’s the Dan I know … prick to the core.
junior, I think you just found an acorn.
The OCDEM’S better get their house in order NOW. Wasn’t one of Royce’s competitors caught up in the #metoo sex scandals?
Still no word on Julio and or Victor……..
I smell a trap.