Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., announced Tuesday that he will retire from Congress, opting to leave next month rather than wait until the end of his term in January.
“After discussions with my family and careful reflection, I have decided to leave Congress in the coming weeks,” Dent said in a statement. “Actively engaging in the legislative and political process presents many challenges, and in so doing, I believe I have had a positive impact on people’s lives and made a difference in Congress.”
Dent, a centrist in the House GOP conference, has been a consistent critic of President Trump. In his statement, Dent said he believes he has done important work to give “the sensible center” a voice.
“I am especially proud of the work I have done to give voice to the sensible center in our country that is often overlooked or ignored,” Dent said. “It is my intention to continue to aggressively advocate for responsible governance and pragmatic solutions in the coming years.”
Dent’s resignation could set up a second special election in the state in a matter of months after Rep. Conor Lamb’s victory in mid-March. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has the power to call for a special election to take place no less than 60 days after Dent leaves office, which would mean an election in the summer. He could also keep the seat open until the November elections.
The state’s primary contests are slated for May 15.
A special election would occur under the current Pennsylvania congressional map, which was tossed out in favor of one drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
