Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA) announced that he will retire after serving the remainder of his term. The congressman has held his seat in Washington State’s 10th Congressional District since assuming office in 2013 following his victory in the 2012 election.
In a letter published on Medium he expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to serve and recalled some of what he “loved” during his time in the House of Representatives. But he also noted that he felt somewhat “discouraged.” Congressman Heck, who serves as a member of the House Intelligence Committee, explained:
In the spirit of complete openness, part of me is also discouraged. The countless hours I have spent in the investigation of Russian election interference and the impeachment inquiry have rendered my soul weary. I will never understand how some of my colleagues, in many ways good people, could ignore or deny the President’s unrelenting attack on a free press, his vicious character assassination of anyone who disagreed with him, and his demonstrably very distant relationship with the truth.
As has been observed, however, to some degree he is a symptom and not the cause or at least the only cause. The truth is that civic discourse began degrading before him. At times, it is as though there are no rules or boundaries. Success seems to be measured by how many Twitter followers one has which are largely gained by saying increasingly outrageous things, the more personal the better. There are simply too many hyperbolic adjectives and too few nouns. Civility is out. Compromise is out. All or nothing is in.
None of this discouragement in any way diminishes the bone-deep gratitude I feel for the privilege to serve in Congress and for all who have made this incredible journey possible — my family, the voters of the 10th District, my staff and all the countless people who have extended a thousand kindnesses along the way. So, in less it hasn’t been clear enough: Thank you! But it is time for me to retire.
The congressman plans to write two books and looks forward to spending time with his wife Paula.
“I promise to 'run through the tape' until the end of my term and continue to work hard and give it my best,” Rep. Heck wrote. “But after that, Paula awaits as well as at least two books I will write. And more movies and sleep and time at the cabin. Washington State so has it over Washington, D.C.”
Today, I announce my retirement from a career in public service that began over forty years ago. I wrote a brief note of thanks, explanation and remembrance. I hope you’ll take a minute to read it. https://t.co/85W8cRooKE
— Denny Heck (@RepDennyHeck) December 4, 2019
Last week, Townhall reported about Joshua Collins, a 26-year-old truck driver hoping to get elected as the congressman from Washington’s 10th Congressional District. Collins advocates for a bevy of radical left-wing policies, some of which include the cancellation of medical debt and student debt, and Medicare for All including free prescriptions, free abortions and free “gender affirmation surgery.”
“Heck's retirement will likely result in a crowded field of candidates vying to succeed him,” according to Politico. “Under Washington's top-two primary system, all candidates will run together on the same ballot, regardless of party, in the Aug. 4 primary, with the top two finishers advancing to a head-to-head general election.”