'Stick around and fight': Columnist says 'mass exodus' of House members means 'chaos caucus wins'

On Thanksgiving 2023, the Wall Street Journal published a report on frustrated lawmakers leaving the U.S. House of Representatives amid the constant chaos plaguing the body. Some have decided against seeking reelection in 2024 but plan to serve out the rest of their terms; others are resigning and planning to leave before their terms end in January 2025.

In a column also published on Thanksgiving, Politico's Jonathan Martin emphasizes that while he understands their frustration, lawmakers will only make things worse if they give up and throw in the towel.

"Your decision isn't taking place in isolation," Martin tells Democrats and Republicans serving in the House. "The collective exodus — November has brought the most congressional retirements in any single month for over a decade — poses a direct threat to the institution. The more capable people like you who leave, the more you're consigning the fate of Congress to those who have no business being there at all. You will only exacerbate the contagion that is prompting you to consider leaving."

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

Martin humorously acknowledges that where the U.S. House is concerned, "Norma Desmond was right, actually: The pictures have gotten smaller." Norma Desmond was a character played by Gloria Swanson in director Billy Wilder's 1950 film noir classic "Sunset Boulevard." And one of her famous lines in the movie was, "I am big. It's the pictures that have gotten small."

Regardless, Martin argues that the "pictures" will get even smaller if lawmakers give up. And he makes his point by quoting some House Democrats who have no desire to leave, chaos and all.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pennsylvania) told Martin, "It's exactly the wrong people who are wanting to leave. The performance artists love the circus, it's what they crave…. If you all leave now, you'll only make it worse here."

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) told Martin that her message for House members is "don’t let the bad guys win." And Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts) told Martin that now "is the time for people who love this country to stick around and fight."

READ MORE: Frustrated House members call it quits over nonstop chaos: 'Difficult and frustrating times'

Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Missouri) argues that the last thing reasonable conservatives should do is give up.

Wagner told Martin, "It's a function of duty — to our country, our democratic republic, our communities and our families. If rational, common sense, get-it-done, consensus-building conservatives give up, the do-nothing, click-bait, self-serving, chaos caucus wins. And America and the world loses."

READ MORE: Mike Johnson says separation of church and state is a 'misnomer'

Read Jonathan Martin's full Politico column at this link.