Powerful CA House Appropriations Committee Chair Reportedly Becomes Twenty-third Dem Not Seeking Re-election

The dominoes apparently are continuing to fall for Democrats amid re-districting and the unlikelihood that they will hold the House of Representatives.

It has been reported that longtime U.S. House Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), the powerful chair of an Appropriations subcommittee overseeing immigration issues, will not seek reelection in 2022.

A fellow Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) member said of Roybal-Allard, “She is an icon.”

Roybal-Allard has begun calling Democratic allies and friends about her retirement, according to sources.

Last month, Roybal-Allard told the LA Times that she was unhappy with the redistricting commission’s proposed map, which she said would “dilute” the latino vote.

With Roybal-Allard’s reported decision, that means that over 10% of the current Democratic House caucus will not be returning in 2023.

Earlier, we reported that U.S. House Reps Albio Sires (D-NJ) and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) have announced that they won’t seek re-election.

Redistricting expert Dave Wasserman said of Roybal-Allard’s decision, “The CA commission is on the verge of merging the seats of Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) and Alan Lowenthal (D). They’re both 80. And now, they’re both retiring.”

The CA commission is on the verge of merging the seats of Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) and Alan Lowenthal (D). They're both 80. And now, they're both retiring. https://t.co/rfc3PWrdOb

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) December 20, 2021

Wasserman also acknowledged that it puts the Democrats over the 10% threshold and started a poll on what the final number of Democrats to depart will be.

Right now, 23 of 221 House Dems (10%) are not seeking reelection in 2022. The final number of Dem exits will be:

— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) December 20, 2021