Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., was first elected to Congress in 1994. He will not seek re-election this year.
(AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
New Jersey Rep. Frank LoBiondo announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of his term, declaring that “our nation is now consumed by increasing political polarization” and that “there is no longer middle ground.”
LoBiondo, 71, joins several other House GOP moderates, including Reps. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, who have decided not to seek re-election in next year’s midterms.
His departure gives Democrats a shot at the seat in a district that President Barack Obama won easily in two elections. Democrats made clear they will try to win the district as they aim to retake control of the House next year. Democrats must pick up two dozen seats to win back the House.
LoBiondo was elected to Congress in 1994 as part of the so-called “Republican Revolution.” He represents a wide swath of southern New Jersey and serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Transportation panel in the House.
Last month, LoBiondo was one of 20 House Republicans to vote against a $4 trillion budget framework for tax reform over plans to limit state and local tax deductions.
In his statement, LoBiondo insisted he was not motivated by electoral fears. Instead, he pointed to term limits on a couple of his committee roles and said that made it the right time to leave. He also delivered an indictment of the current political climate in Washington and Congress.
In his statement, LoBiondo insisted he was not motivated by electoral fears. Instead, he pointed to term limits on a couple of his committee roles and said that made it the right time to leave. He also delivered an indictment of the current political climate in Washington and Congress.
“As some of my closest colleagues have also come to realize, those of us who came to Congress to change Washington for the better through good governance are now the outliers,” he wrote. “In legislating, we previously fought against allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good. Today a vocal and obstinate minority within both parties has hijacked good legislation in pursuit of no legislation.”
Fox News’ Chad Pergram and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
