After a week of speculation, sources in Pennsylvania’s 6th District told Newsmax that Republican Rep. Ryan Costello would make it official by Tuesday: At age 41 and after four years in Congress, he would not seek re-election this fall.
With the filing deadline for the May primary on Tuesday, Republicans in the 6th District are faced with the prospect of not having a candidate for a district long considered firmly in their grasp.
Costello’s exit will make him the 38th Republican U.S. Representative this year to announce retirement, resignation, or a bid for another office.
Pundits and pols on both sides agree that the decision of the 38 departing lawmakers—the highest number of Republicans to leave the office since World War II—gives the Democrats a better-than-even chance to pick up the 25 seats they need to capture a majority in the House.
Where Republicans may soon be scrambling for a candidate, 6th District Democrats feel they already have a strong contender: Chrissy Houlahan, retired U.S. Air Force officer and businesswoman. Former Vice President Joe Biden has already endorsed Houlahan and area Democratic leaders are weighing in for her.
In 2016, the Sixth District’s populous Chester County went for Hillary Clinton by over 20,000 votes. Last year, Democrats swept all the county offices for the first time.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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