More House Republicans are leaving Congress to run for governor than in decades amid frustration over 'toxic environment

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

PUBLISHED Dec 25, 2025, 4:00 AM ET


Congressional Republicans have yet to break the record for most retirements in a single year, but some say it’s only a matter of time before widespread frustration with the current state of Washington leads to a tipping point as many in the party head for the exits.

The 10 House Republicans seeking gubernatorial offices in their states this election cycle is the most who have run from either party in the available data compiled by CNN dating back to 1974. From Arizona to Florida to South Carolina, an increasing number of GOP lawmakers feel like they can better implement President Donald Trump’s agenda at the state level than as part of a narrow majority in Congress.

“I just think that I’ll have more impact as a chief executive versus being a legislator,” Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor of Wisconsin, told CNN. “The basic question is where can I do the most good for the people in the state of Wisconsin? And I believe that it is as governor.”

While most Republicans departing Congress leave behind them safe seats that will be easy for their party to fill, the departures underscore the broader discontent that members say comes with the job – from gridlock that makes it difficult to pass legislation to security threats they and their families face from being in the public eye.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/25/politics/lawmakers-leaving-congress-vis

[no_hypocrisy]

1. And if they won the governors' elections?

Would they stand up to Trump any more than in Congress?

[murielm99]

10. They would fuck up a lot of states' governments.

Rauner did a lot of damage here in Illinois. Our JB is fixing things now.

[mwmisses4289]

2. So they don't like the environment they created?

Is it mean of me to hope everyone of them loses their bid for governor of their state?

[tanyev]

3. Gosh, it was all fun and games when that toxicity was only aimed at Democrats.

😒

[Biophilic]

4. It's their toxic state. The GOP owns it.

They shouldn't be able to just run away when things start to turn on them.

[Callie1979]

5. Leave early & flip the House as a protest. Would only take 4-5 right?

[TheRickles]

7. And then the new Dem majority could elect Jeffries as Speaker, right?

[agingdem]

6. The MAG assholes enabled and perpetuated the stink

and now they’re running from it..

[kimbutgar]

8. By election time in 2026 repukes will be so hated even those reps won't win many governorships

Only in the dumb ass reddish states. Who wants a repuke running their state after the disastrous president piggy’s reign of terror gets even worst. Climate change is going it affect a bunch of states and no early weather warnings and no FEMA assistance. Orange piggy can’t blame President Biden either for his horrible actions.

[JHB]

9. File under: Self-inflicted problems

The problem isn't "Washington", the problem isn't "Congress", the problem is Republicans.

[Scruffy1]

11. Follow the money.

It's pretty clear that only the higher ups are getting the graft and it's not trickling down even though they have kissed his ass to the point of buying lip balm by the case. So they do the dirty work and Noem and the rest get the geld. Corruption at state level is more lucrative and the Supremes have kept the feds out of it. A good example is when Texas governor A-butt spent 11 billion on his "border stunts" and the legislature refused to audit it. Even if only 10% was graft, that's still a billion among "friends". That is enough dough to make a thousand grifters millionaires. That is, if the insiders didn't get i tall.