SPOKANE, Wash.- Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) has announced that she is not seeking reelection in 2024. She has served in congress since 2005 and is an influential figure in both Congress and the Republican Party. Her choice to not run again marks a sea-change in regional politics.
Reactions on social media have been swift and polarized. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), a conservative member of congress, conveyed her sadness to see McMorris Rodgers leave the chamber on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Sad to see Cathy McMorris Rodgers leave Congress but I am excited to see her success in her next journey. She has been an incredible friend & mentor to me [and] I cherish the moments we’ve shared. Thank you for your years of service & guidance. God’s plan for you has only just begun,” McClain wrote.
Reagan Dunn (R-WA), the vice-chair of the King County Council, offered a brief thanks to the congresswoman for her years in the House.
“During her nearly 20 years as a Congresswoman, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has developed a reputation as being fair-minded, honest, and kind to everyone. She is a trailblazer in Congress and a dedicated public servant for the people she represents…I wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” Dunn said.
Ann Marie Danimus (D-WA) , a community organizer and small business owner who is running for the fifth congressional district seat currently held by McMorris Rodgers, offered a brief response to her announcement.
“Things just got interesting in the 5th CD,” her campaign wrote.
Eric Michael Garcia, an MSNBC columnist and advocate for autistic people, noted that McMorris Rodgers made disability issues a consistent theme of her legislative work.
“Cathy McMorris Rodgers is an outspoken voice on ending subminimum wage labor for people with [disabilities.] Her son has Down Syndrome. I was surprised she didn’t put herself up for speaker,” Garcia wrote.
Conservative media figure Brandi Kruse registered her surprise with the decision, and argued that McMorris Rodgers’ departure was part of a broader shift in the Congress.
“We’ve seen this really across the country, from some of the more sane members of congress, where it’s just become too much–it’s become a sideshow,” Kruse said.
Courtney Mattison, the vice president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, an organization dedicated to limited government, stated that McMorris Rodgers was a strong example of principled leadership.
“Congress is losing a great leader, and even better person with Chair McMorris Rodgers’ departure — big shoes to fill,” Mattison wrote.
Responses to McMorris Rodgers’ announcement will likely continue to saturate social media, both from political pundits and public officials. Check back here for more updates.
