By Corinne Murdock |
Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) announced Tuesday that she won’t be seeking re-election in 2024.
In a press release, Lesko cited family as her main reason for retiring from the job.
“I want to spend more time with my husband, my 94-year-old mother, my three children, and my five grandchildren,” said Lesko. “Spending, on average, three weeks out of every month away from my family and traveling back and forth to Washington, D.C. almost every weekend is difficult.”
Lesko also cited the increased difficulty of passing legislation, declaring the nation’s capital to be broken.
Lesko assumed office in 2018, succeeding the retired former Rep. Trent Franks in a special election. Of the 102 bills she introduced, two became law.
One was HR 6400, which directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to submit to the congressional homeland security and tax committees a threat and operational analysis of U.S. air, land, and sea ports of entry.
The other law was HR 6016, naming a U.S. Postal Service facility in Surprise as the “Marc Lee Memorial Post Office Building.”
The Heritage Foundation, one of the biggest conservative activist organizations, rates Lesko at a 100 percent conservative voting record. Lesko is a member of the House Freedom Caucus.
Lesko will serve through the end of her term in 2025.
As one of her recent major acts in Congress, Lesko has backed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) in the contentious House Speaker race. Jordan failed a second time to receive enough votes for the speakership on Wednesday.
22 voted against Jordan: Reps. Don Bacon (NE), Vern Buchanan (FL), Ken Buck (CO), Lori Chavez-Ramer (OR), Anthony D’Esposito (NY), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), Jake Ellzy (FL), Drew Ferguson (GA), Andrew Garbarino (NY), Carlos Gimenez (FL), Tony Gonzales (TX), Kay Granger (TX), John James (MI), Mike Kelly (PA), Jennifer Kiggans (VA), Nick LaLota (NY), Michael Lawler (NY), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA), John Rutherford (FL), Michael Simpson (ID), Pete Stauber (MN), and Steve Womack (AR).
All Democrats voted for their minority leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
Several hours after Lesko issued her announcement, Republican attorney general candidate Abe Hamadeh announced his candidacy to replace Lesko. Hamadeh cited former President and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump as his main reason for running.
“President Trump is under attack,” said Hamadeh. “He needs back up — and I’m ready to help him Make America Great Again.”
No other Republicans have announced their intent to run for the seat.
One independent, Jeremy Spreitzer, has announced his candidacy, as well as two Democrats: Bernadette Greene Placentia and Gregory Whitten.
The filing deadline is April 8, 2024.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
