One of the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump says he will not be seeking re-election. Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez announced on Thursday that he will not be seeking another term in Congress. In his statement, Rep. Gonzalez said he is leaving politics to focus on fuller family life and also noted toxic dynamics within the GOP as reasons for his departure.
See my full statement below regarding my decision not to seek re-election. pic.twitter.com/vsggxjD1FI
— Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (@RepAGonzalez) September 17, 2021
The Hill reports:
“As Elizabeth and I consider the realities of continuing in public service while juggling the increasing responsibilities of being parents to our two beautiful children, it is clear that the best path for our family is to not seek re-election this fall,” Gonzalez said.
The Ohio Republican Party’s central committee voted to censure Gonzalez and called for his resignation in May.
Gonzalez responded that he thought “continuing to perpetuate falsehoods, especially ones that are dangerous that led to the violence on Jan. 6, is a recipe for disaster for the party, but it’s also horribly irresponsible.”
Gonzalez’s decision comes as Trump continues his effort to unseat lawmakers who voted to impeach him. Gonzalez is the only one of those 10 who have thus far announced an intention to retire.
Trump has already endorsed former White House Aide Max Miller in the race for Ohio’s 16th Congressional district.
Thursday morning, former President Trump responded to new Gonzalez won’t be seeking re-election and said it’s “no loss for Ohio.”
“RINO Congressman Anthony Gonzalez, who has poorly represented his district in the Great State of Ohio, has decided to quit after enduring a tremendous loss of popularity, of which he had little, since his ill-informed and otherwise very stupid impeachment vote against the sitting President of the United States, me,” Trump writes. “This is no loss for Ohio or our Country and, most importantly, we have a great candidate who was substantially leading Gonzalez in the polls, Max Miller, who I have given my Complete and Total Endorsement. Max is a tremendous person who will represent Ohio well. Good riddance to Anthony, he can now get himself a job at ratings-dead CNN or MSDNC!”
