Graves' Retirement Sparks GOP Scramble in Missouri

0:00It's March 27. This is U.S. News Today, powered by AI, bringing you what matters across the U.S. Missouri Representative Sam Graves announced Friday he won't seek re-election next year. As 62 years old, he's the latest Republican House member to bow out, pushing the total GOP retirements this cycle to 36. That's well ahead of the 21 Democrats leaving and just eight short of the record set back in 1992. These first came to Washington in 2000 alongside George W. Bush. He climbed the ranks to chair the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In his safely Republican 6 District in Missouri, he was on track for an easy win before suddenly dropping out. Now the seat is wide open, sparking with the state GOP chair calls a real scramble in the Republican primary. Local conservative radio host Chris Stigall looks set to jump in. He shared with listeners that recent events around President Trump's two close calls and his election victory pushed him toward the race.

1:03Experts see this as part of a bigger trend. Political analyst Norman Ornstein predicts even more lawmakers were retired soon. He points to the tense atmosphere in the House, where actual governing feels sidelined for many Republicans. With primaries heating up and the retirement wave growing, this could reshape key races heading into the new Congress.