A Republican lawmaker said President Donald Trump is a factor in his decision to not seek re-election in 2018.
Cong, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania is one of the 27 Republicans who decided to retire after the end of their term.
In an interview with CNN’s Poppy Harlow, Cong. Dent said, “Well, at least in my case, I would say the President was a factor, but not the factor for me deciding to leave.” He explained that he has been considering of leaving Congress since 2013 when the federal government entered a shutdown.
According to him, “I really thought it might be time to move on. Those are part of my reasons.”
Additionally, the Pennsylvania lawmaker noted that Republicans who are facing re-election are confronting very challenging obstacles.
He said, “Certainly, we are in a very challenging mid-term environment. The party, the President typically loses 32 seats in a mid-term like this. I think most of my colleagues are well aware of the historical challenges that we pay.”
Cong. Dent says Pres. Trump is a “very polarizing figure”
Furthermore Cong. Dent emphasized that President Donald Trump as the leader of the GOP “complicates” the political environment. He cited the reason that the President is a “very polarizing figure.” The congressman expected that Republicans will face even greater challenges because of that.
