Alabama Republican Rep. Martha Roby on Friday announced that she will not seek reelection in 2020, the third straight day a House Republican member said they were leaving Congress voluntarily.
“Riley and I, and our children, Margaret and George, will be forever grateful to the people of Alabama’s Second District for giving us the tremendous privilege and honor of serving our state and country. Throughout my five terms in Congress, I have cast every vote with the guiding principle that Alabama always comes first,” Roby said in a statement.
NEWS: MARTHA ROBY (R-ALA.) will not seek reelection in 2020. Becomes third House Republican this week to announce their retirement; others were Paul Mitchell and Pete Olson. pic.twitter.com/pH7rM5L3A4
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) July 26, 2019
Roby, 43, first won her House seat in the 2010 tea party wave. The Second District, in Alabama’s southeast section, has a 16-point Republican voting registration edge, meaning it’s likely to stay in GOP hands come 2020.
Earlier this week, Reps. Paul Mitchell of Michigan and Pete Olson of Texas said they would be leaving Congress after the 2020 elections. Three additional House Republicans had already announced retirement plans, along with two Democrats.
The growing list Republicans departures aren’t terribly surprising, considering the party’s demotion to minority status in the House after the 2018 elections.
Roby at times had a fraught relationship with President Trump, having condemned him in the 2016 election after the Access Hollywood tape was released featuring the GOP nominee discussing sexual harassment of women. Despite the criticism, the president endorsed her in 2018 in the lead-up to a primary runoff she had been forced into.
Congratulations to Martha Roby of The Great State of Alabama on her big GOP Primary win for Congress. My endorsement came appropriately late, but when it came the “flood gates” opened and you had the kind of landslide victory that you deserve. Enjoy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018
