🇺🇸 A record number of US lawmakers are leaving Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections: 43 House members and 10 senators have announced retirement or resignation.
🟥 Most departures are Republicans, signaling internal concern that the GOP could suffer heavy losses in 2026.
⚠️ High-profile exits, like Marjorie Taylor Greene resigning early, are seen as a warning sign of deeper party trouble.
🏛️ Reasons for leaving include gridlock in Congress, party dysfunction, low morale, and Donald Trump’s weak approval ratings.
🗺️ Redistricting and gerrymandering in states like Texas have made some districts less safe, pushing incumbents to quit early.
📊 Political trends (“thermostatic politics”) suggest the president’s party usually loses seats in midterms — bad news for Republicans.
🔵 Democrats are overperforming in special elections and leading in national polls, increasing GOP fears.
🔥 Tensions inside the House, including dissatisfaction with Speaker Mike Johnson, show growing institutional chaos.
⏳ These early exits could weaken Republicans’ narrow majority even before voters go to the polls.
👉 Bottom line: Many Republicans appear to believe defeat is coming in 2026, and are choosing to leave Congress before the wave hits 🌊📦.