House GOP accused of 'throwing in the towel' amid unexpected retirements

A series of high-profile retirement announcements this year is sparking worry about the Republican Party's ability to keep its majority.

So far there have been 15 retirement announcements from House Republicans.

Political science professor Grant Reeher says that moments of heavy exits from Congress serve as a "canary in the coal mine."

ALSO READ: How Speaker Mike Johnson’s dream of bipartisan decency died in his hands

"If I'm the Speaker, I'm definitely worried," he said, adding that the exits are especially worrisome if they leave an open and challengeable seat.

As Newsweek points out, the 118 Congress has been one of the least productive in history, only passing 39 bills since its launch in January of last year.

Also read: 'A lot of pain': Ex-prosecutor says Trump will have to sell properties left and right

"While the Democratic-controlled Senate has maintained some semblance of bipartisanship, passing an aid bill on February 13 to fund war efforts in Ukraine and Israel, the House has faced heated division," writes Newsweek's Alex J. Rouhandeh. "Not only have Democrats and Republicans come into conflict, making the body's most basic job of funding the federal government an arduous task, but Republicans have faced bitter inter-party divisions."

Jim McGovern (D-MA) says lawmakers are retiring because "they know that they're going to lose, and they're sick of the bulls***—plain and simple."

"I think that's why you're seeing so many people leave. Some of these people are in key positions, and they would remain in key positions, even in the minority," he said, according to the report.

Byron Donalds (R-FL) isn't not worried about the exits.

"We have a lot of members who are nearly done with their term as chairman, so why stay around at that point?" Donalds said. "I think chairmen leaving after they're done makes sense."

Read more at Newsweek.