Full List Of Democrats Not Seeking Reelection As Another Rep. Announced He Will Retire

Democratic Rep. Dwight Evans is the latest lawmaker from the party to announce he won't seek reelection, Axios reported on Monday.

Evans is now the sixth lawmaker from the party to communicate he will retire after the 2026 midterms as Democrats continue their internal struggle to define their direction after losing the 2024 presidential election and both chambers of Congress.

Axios recalled that Evans suffered a stroke last year, which prevented him from voting for much of 2024 and confined him to a walker ever since. While he said he remains in "good health and fully capable of continuing to serve," he decided "the time is right to announce that I will not be seeking re-election in 2026."

Two other Democratic Reps. had said so far this year that they would retire. Rep. Jan Schakowsky said so in May just months after a TikTok influencer announced her bid for the congressional seat. "I plan to be active in politics, in policy, in fighting for people," Schakowsky said, addressing the crowd. "...I have every intention of being fully engaged," she said at the 24th annual Ultimate Women's Power Lunch fundraiser at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.

The other one was Rep. Gerry Connolly, who said in April he would retire and give up his role as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee following the return of his esophageal cancer. He died the following month.

The outlet noted that the Democratic Party's younger, more progressive wing hopes many more lawmakers will retire to make room to a new generation. Many are also planning to present primary challenges to those who don't.

Four Democratic senators have also announced their retirement from Congress: Dick Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen, Tina Smith and Gary Peters.

Evans' announcement follows the high-profile retirement of Republican Sen. Thom Tillis on Sunday, which took place as he was sustaining attacks from President Donald Trump over his opposition to his "big, beautiful" tax cut and spending bill.

"As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven't exactly been excited about running for another term," Tillis said in a statement when announcing his decision.

"That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It's not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election." Trump celebrated the decision, saying it was "great news."