Rep. Sam Graves is exiting his reelection campaign after 13 terms in Congress, joining the historic exodus of retiring lawmakers ahead of November’s midterm election.
The 62-year-old Missouri Republican, who has been in office since 2001, told The Wall Street Journal that he decided to bow out of the race earlier this week, planning to withdraw his paperwork seeking reelection on Friday. He is chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
“I think it is time for me to step down,” Mr. Graves told the Journal. “I filed for reelection, and I was still kind of evaluating … my next chapter in life, and what that might look like.”
Mr. Graves is among more than 50 House members announcing that they will not seek another term. Republicans are leading in departures, with many running for the Senate or for governor.
Whispers about him abandoning his campaign were already circulating ahead of the March 31 filing deadline. Now, more eager candidates may jump into the August primary to compete for the GOP-safe district.
Jim Ingram, a veteran and retired business owner, was the first Republican to file and previously said that more candidates joining the primary is “going to really muddy the waters, and it’s going to be hard for the party to pick a clear winner.”
The day before Mr. Graves’ departure notice became public, Republican state Rep. Mazzie Christenson, a Trump-aligned lawmaker, said that she is seriously considering entering the race. Jeff Roe, the founder of Axiom Strategies who has not seen President Trump’s favor, also has been mentioned as a potential candidate. And Kansas City Councilman Nathan Willett, who is running for an open state Senate seat, may toss his hat into the ring, but he has yet to confirm.
Three Democrats have filed to run: Josh Smead of Liberty, and Scot Pondelick and Matt Levine of Kansas City.
Mr. Graves has been the top Republican on the Transportation Committee since 2019. He said Rep. David Rouzer of North Carolina would be the best Republican to replace him.
Even if Republicans held onto their slim House majority, Mr. Graves may not have been able to maintain his position as chair because House GOP rules generally cap committee leaders at six years.
He said that he does not have a new role lined up but said he would be interested in helping businesses, associations and companies steer their way through the legislative process.
