House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection after 15 years in Congress, opening a key seat in the Democratic stronghold of Louisville.
Yarmuth, the sole Democrat in Kentucky’s delegation, said he will step aside to spend more time with family. He will be 75 years old when his term ends in January 2023. He’s the fifth House Democrat to announce his retirement as the party faces an uphill battle to keep its majority in the 2022 election.
As budget chair, Yarmuth has helped to shepherd key parts of President Joe Biden’s agenda through Congress and has played a major role in the party’s latest priority: a multi-trillion-dollar social spending plan.