House Speaker Paul Ryan was upbeat as he announced that he will not run for re-election after serving nearly 20 years in Congress.
“I will be retiring in January leaving this majority in good hands with what I believe is a very bright future,” Ryan said.
Seattle political pollster Stuart Elway says Ryan's leaving raises more doubts about Republicans keeping their House majority.
“I think it's very rough in the House. He's the 25th Republican to announce their retirement this year,” Elway said.
For example, Issaquah has been represented by Republican Dave Reichert, who announced his retirement months ago. The 8th District stretches from Issaquah east across the Cascades to Wenatchee.
And Democrats are pouncing.
“We're excited, there's an opportunity for Democrats to take back control of the House this year. Momentum is building, and I think the GOP is running scared,” said 8th District Democratic candidate Jason Rittereiser.
“Anytime we see that a Republican is afraid to run it tells us that they know that their message is not sustainable,” said another 8th District Democratic candidate, Kim Schrier.
Republican candidate Dino Rossi declined an interview but issued a statement.
"I entered the race for the 8th District because I've shown the ability to defuse angry partisanship and bring people together to solve problems.”
At Ryan's side today was Spokane Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
She's the fourth ranking Republican in the House and she could run to replace Ryan as speaker. But first she faces a tough campaign to keep her seat against former Washington Senate Democratic Leader Lisa Brown.
“McMorris Rodgers has the same approval rating in the 5th district as Donald Trump, which is 45 percent,” pollster Elway said.
Elway says that's the reason Republican McMorris Rodgers has just 44 percent in his new Congressional race poll, making the race a tossup.
“It's going to be those two, Lisa Brown and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and only 16 percent undecided. You'd say that spells trouble.”
McMorris Rodgers praised Ryan, but didn’t discuss any plans today.
Her campaign spokeswoman, Ashley Stubbs, did issue a statement in response to the Elway Poll.
"We're confident working families in Eastern Washington will vote for Cathy's proven leadership to cut taxes, help veterans, boost Fairchild, and protect the Snake River dams, which Cathy did today in DC by passing a bill out of committee, and reject what the Cook Political Report described as Lisa's 'very liberal voting record in Olympia, including fighting to raise taxes and tuition hikes."
Cox Media Group
