Rep. Bill Flores becomes 15th House Republican to announce plans to exit chamber
WASHINGTON – Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, on Wednesday became the latest House Republican to announce plans to retire at the end of his current term, saying he wants to spend more time with his family and resume private-sector business activities.
“After much prayer over the past few days and following conversations with my wife, Gina, during that time, I have decided that my current term will be my last,” Flores, 65, who was first elected in 2010, said in a statement.
He is the 15th member of the House Republican caucus – five of them from Texas – to announce a resignation, retirement or plans to run for another office next year. By contrast, only three Democrats have announced plans to voluntarily exit the chamber, which their party currently controls.
Flores becomes 5th Texas GOP congressman retiring in 2020
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A fifth Texas Republican congressman added his name Wednesday to the list of House GOP retirements in the nation’s biggest conservative state.
Five-term Rep. Bill Flores is the 14th House Republican so far to announce plans to depart this year, compared with three House Democrats who have said they are leaving. Another GOP incumbent, Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania, resigned earlier this year but the party retained the seat.
While Flores’ district is considered safe for Republicans, the number of GOP departures has complicated the party’s uphill quest to recapture the House majority in the 2020 elections.
At least four of the retiring Republicans are vacating seats that Democrats could win, largely in suburban districts where an aversion to President Donald Trump among educated women is weakening the GOP.