The Donald Trump Era Could Send Moderate Republicans Running for the Exits

Sen. Bob Corker is the kind of politician who typically could stay in the Capitol for as long as he wants. A former mayor of Chattanooga and a successful businessman, the Tennessee Republican was reelected in 2012 with 65% of the vote in a reliably red state. But Corker announced this week that he would not seek a third term in the 2018 midterm elections. Asked about the retirement Thursday, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, his colleague on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told a reporter that Corker was “not happy.” Were any other senators unhappy as well? “About 99 that I know,” McCain said. It was a joke, but there was a kernel of truth in it. The repeated failures to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the upcoming slogs over tax cuts and the status of undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children have made the job of a Republican lawmaker less fun lately. Add to that the pointed criticism from President Donald Trump, the threat of primary opponents fueled by former White House advisor Steve Bannon, and the historical pattern of the president’s party losing seats in midterm elections, and it’s not surprising that a few moderate GOP lawmakers have already decided to call it quits. In addition to Corker, six members of the House of Representatives have announced plans to retire in 2018: Florida’s Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Pennsylvania’s Charlie Dent, Washington’s Dave Reichert, Michigan’s Dave Trott, T...
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized 2018 election 2018 Elections Donald Trump onetime Republican Party Source Type: news