House Comms Democratic Lead Hopeful Butterfield to Retire
House Communications Subcommittee member Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., said Thursday he won’t seek reelection next year. Butterfield, a former Congressional Black Caucus chairman, had earlier this month been eyeing whether to seek the subcommittee’s lead Democratic seat when current leader…
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Mike Doyle, D-Pa., retires (see 2111120002). “I’m disappointed, terribly disappointed, with the Republican-majority legislature for again gerrymandering our state’s congressional districts and putting their party’s politics over the best interests of North Carolina,” Butterfield said. “While I am hopeful that the courts will ultimately overturn this partisan map and see that a fair map is enacted, I have made the difficult decision that … it is time for me to retire and allow the torch to be passed to someone who shares the values of the district and can continue the work.” Analysts believe the state’s redistricting process significantly altered Butterfield's existing district and set it up to be far more competitive in the 2022 election. Butterfield is the fourth House Communications member to announce plans to leave the chamber. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., like Doyle, is retiring. Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo, is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Rules Committee ranking member Roy Blunt (R). Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., is believed to be mulling a bid for the Senate seat being vacated by Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D).