Arizona House Republican won’t run for reelection: DC ‘is broken’

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) announced Tuesday that she would not be seeking reelection in 2024 because “Washington, D.C. is broken,” she said in a statement.

The Arizona congresswoman also said she wants to spend more time with family.

“Spending, on average, three weeks out of every month away from my family, and traveling back and forth to Washington, D.C. almost every weekend is difficult,” Lesko said in her statement. “Right now, Washington, D.C. is broken; it is hard to get anything done.”

Lesko, 64, said she plans to continue to work “to improve Congress” and to help her constituents in Arizona’s eighth district.

“I want to thank all of the people who have supported me throughout the years. Please know that my office and I will continue to passionately serve our constituents and our nation until the end of my term in January 2025,” Lesko’s statement said.

Lesko’s announcement came after the House adjourned for the day after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) failed to earn enough votes to be elected as the new speaker.

Lesko assumed office in 2018 after winning a special election to fill the vacant seat left by former Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.). She was voted into a full term in Nov. 2018.

Lesko founded the Protect Kids Caucus and serves as co-chair of the Women in Stem Caucus, the Values Action Team and the Congressional Western Caucus. She has been an outspoken pro-life advocate and member of the Freedom Caucus.

Lesko was vocal in the debate over regulations of gas stoves. The Save Our Gas Stoves Act, introduced by Lesko, passed the House in June.

A Republican candidate is likely to fill her position, given her district’s lean, but all eyes are on Arizona in the upcoming election year with the state becoming one of the key swing states in recent election cycles.

Lesko joins Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) who previously released a statement that she would not be running for reelection due to health challenges.