U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., announced Tuesday that she’ll retire at the end of her current term, instead of running for re-election.
30 representatives, including Eshoo, have now announced their retirements from the House ahead of the 2024 election, and Democrats make up 19 of the 30 retirees.
At this point in the 2022 cycle, only 24 representatives had announced their retirement from the House, according to one review… and the media dubbed that cycle a “retire-a-thon.”
Eshoo made her announcement in a video posted to Twitter.
“I’m choosing this beautiful season of Thanksgiving to announce that I will not be seeking reelection,” she said. “And I do so with a heart filled with unending gratitude to you, my magnificent constituents.”
She said in the video announcement that she made her decision after reflecting on her record of accomplishments in the chamber. Specifically, she toured her time as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where she now serves as the highest-ranking Democrat on the Health Subcommittee.
“I’m very proud of the body of bipartisan work I’ve been able to achieve on your behalf in the Congress,” Eshoo said in a message to her constituents.
Eshoo, 80, began her political career on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. By the end of her current term, she will have served in Congress for 32 years.
The congresswoman said she’ll be leaving public office with more than 60 bills she introduced having been signed into law.
She helped to found both the Congressional Internet Caucus and the caucus for Christians in the Middle East. She still co-chairs both organizations, in addition to the Medical Technology Caucus.
Eshoo’s retirement will likely kick off a fierce race for her seat in California’s 16th Congressional District, which encompasses Silicon Valley as well as parts of Santa Jose and San Mateo County.
California’s 16th district is anchored in Santa Clara County, and it includes parts of Silicon Valley. The district, rated D+26, voted for President Joe Biden by 19.9 points in 2020. Two years before, Eshoo’s constituency even voted for Kevin de Leon, the ultra-liberal challenger to the late Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
However, Eshoo is the first Democrat ever to represent the region, and her retirement will likely trigger a competitive election under California’s “jungle primary.”
Democrat Assemblymember Evan Low already intends to run for the empty seat, one insider told the San Jose Spotlight. He’s expected to make a formal announcement sometime after Thanksgiving.
As other possible candidates, the Spotlight named state Sen. Josh Becker, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, and former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.
Eshoo is the sixth California Democrat this year to announce retirement from the U.S. House. Rep. Tony Cárdenas, who has represented California’s San Fernando Valley for nearly three decades, also said this week that he will be retiring when his term is up.
The California Democrats have been trying to improve their image. Speaking to the Associated Press, Gov. Gavin Newsom has taken issue with “what the hell Fox News has been talking about all these years.”
However, Eshoo hasn’t cited that as the reason for her retirement.
“I’m not running away from anything,” Eshoo told the Spotlight. “This is the time for me.”
Take a look at Eshoo’s announcement —
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article.