More Republicans ‘running for the hills’ as midterm beatdown looms

U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) holds the gavel after he was re-elected as Speaker of the House on the first day of the 119th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Bulwark White House Correspondent Andrew Egger admits the U.S. Capitol is “starting to see some Republicans run for the hills” as mounting frustration under the rule of President Donald Trump mingles with the likelihood of an encroaching midterm bushwhacking by Democrats.

“Republican Congressman Mark Amadai announced he'd be retiring from Congress at the end of this term,” said Egger, while adding that the retirement should be puzzling because the congressman “just won reelection in 2024 by a lot, almost 19 points.”

“So, it's not like it's not a very red district,” said Egger. “But he's also not the only guy.”

Press Pass author and Bulwark congressional correspondent Joe Perdicone pointed out that Amadai’s retirement brings the Republican surrender this session up to 31.

“… [P]eople just don't want to stick around because it's not fun when you go from having power in the majority to being powerless in the minority,” said Perticone, citing mounting Republican unpopularity and the nation’s midterm tradition of bouncing out the president’s party in midterms.

But another issue, said Perticone, was GOP lawmakers’ apparent powerlessness in the shadow of the domineering figure of Trump.

“Mike Johnson does everything that Trump says and he doesn't allow anything that Trump won't allow. And, so, the House doesn't get to do anything,” said Perticone. “You don't get to prioritize your little pet projects. A lot of these members of Congress, they like to do things that are very specific to their interests. But when you have this paralyzed floor, you have a very thin majority. So they're not having fun right now and they know it's only going to get worse when they're in the minority. So, you know, go find a job elsewhere. Go get rich lobbying.”

Egger said Trump has likely further poisoned the well mounting vengeance campaigns against Republican members of the House that he feels have crossed him. This includes fielding an opponent for Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in the Republican primary and his declaration of war against his former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

But Perticone said the frustration of being neutered by the president should not be understated.

“These are guys who should be – this is their time, right? This is the Trump second term, like the comeback. The Freedom Caucus guys should be steering the ship in Congress, but they don't get to do anything because Trump demands – absolute loyalty, and so now they just fold every time there's like a funding disagreement and it sucks and they don't like it, so poor them.”

“They should be steering all these different priorities. But instead, Trump just says, ‘shut up. Do what I say. Be flexible on the Hyde Amendment. He's telling them to do all these things that it's the opposite of what they wanted,” Perticone added. “And of course they can't say that. So, they just go, ‘ah, I'm running for governor.’

“It's going to be even less fun for them if in the likely event that the House flips to Democratic control. So, you know, get out of Dodge,” Perticone said.

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