Another longtime House Republican has decided to quit Washington… and experts say Republicans can’t afford to keep losing members like this.
Florida Rep. Daniel Webster announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection after 15 years in Congress, becoming the latest in a record-breaking wave of GOP lawmakers heading for the exits ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“After much prayerful consideration and discussion with my beloved wife Sandy, I have decided not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives,” Webster said. “The time has come to pass the torch to the next conservative leader and spend more precious time with my wife, children and 24 grandchildren.”
Webster, who since 20117 has represented Florida’s 11th District which include the The Villages, talked about his fiscal success on the way out.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I have fought for legislative reforms that would restore a member driven process and fiscal responsibility. To set an example, I have reduced my congressional salary and office budget every year, returning over $6 million in savings to the Treasury as a small but meaningful step toward restoring fiscal responsibility,” he said.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott praised Webster as “a hard worker and an American patriot” who “dedicated decades of his life to serving the great people of Florida.”
Webster is one of many Republicans leaving Congress. As of April 2026, a record 36 House Republicans have announced they will not return to their seats after the midterms — already surpassing the previous record of 34 set in 2018, the last time Democrats took back the House under Trump’s first term. By comparison, only 20 House Democrats are giving up life in Washington, D.C.
Republicans currently hold a razor-thin House majority of 218 seats to Democrats’ 213. Losing open seats in a midterm environment is dangerous — historically, the president’s party suffers significant losses, and Trump’s second term is expected to continue that trend.
The retirement wave spans the party’s most powerful leaders. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Thom Tillis, and Sen. Joni Ernst are all leaving the Senate. In the House, departing Republicans include Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, Armed Services Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, and high-profile members like Chip Roy, Byron Donalds, and Nancy Mace.
Webster’s announcement came one day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposed new congressional map that could deliver Republicans four additional Florida House seats. Webster had publicly opposed the redistricting push last month.
“Don’t do it. I’ve been around enough reapportionments to know it’s a slippery slope,” he said.