In a party already filled with turmoil, the Republicans don't need to take a chance with the 2018 elections. With the retirement of 12 other House Republicans in 2018, Charlie Dent and Dave Reichert quietly announced their terms will be ending when this term is up as well.
In a week full of news about multiple hurricanes in the Atlantic and wildfires in California, Dent and Reichert managed to be overlooked, but it won't be long before the GOP is looking to support more congressmen in their 2018 election runs.
They can't ignore their lack of party support for long.
Charlie Dent: seven terms is enough
Charlie Dent is the Representative from Pennsylvania's 15th district. He's in his seventh term, and he's had enough.
"You know I expect a certain amount of dysfunction in government but those guys have taken the 'fun' out of dysfunction," Dent said in an interview with CNN. He is making it clear that he's not leaving the GOP, they've already left him.
Dave Reichert: leaving Washington to go back to Washington
Dave Reichert has been the Representative for Washington's eighth district for six terms. He's finishing out his seventh term, and leaving after 40 years of serving the public.
"It was not an easy decision but I believe it was the right one for my family and me," was Reichert's statement about his retirement.
With the eighth district seat being occupied by a Republican for more than a decade, Democrats are already lining up to run in 2018.
What's next for the Republican Party?
Although Dent and Reichert announced their retirements this week, over a year away from elections, they are probably leading a line of Republicans who will be leaving Congress with the next elections.
There's been a lack of enthusiasm for the party lately. History has proven that when presidents are below a 50% approval rating, the average loss for their party in Congress is 36 seats. With so many in the GOP retiring and others claiming the president is an embarrassment, it appears that the 2018 election will show history repeating itself.
Charlie Dent believes that 2018 will be a complete loss of control for the GOP: "I.. believe that...2018 will be similar... to [other] years, one party controlled all three branches of government...I think a lot of members here are going to have to plan for the worst and then hope for the best."
It seems that the Republican party has a lot of catching up to do.
With 12 other retirements looming, these two retirements are the biggest political developments of the week. These men represent the growing number of GOP congressmen that are willing to abandon the current party.
What will happen next week or next year with both parties?
