U.S. House Budget Chairman and Louisville Congressman John Yarmuth announced Tuesday that he would not run for reelection. The 3rd District Democrat released a video on Twitter stating his intentions.
“This term will be my last,” Yarmuth explained. “While I am in excellent health, knock on wood, I know the significant physical demands of the job will only become more challenging. I will be 75 when my current term ends, and the desire to have more control of my time in the years I have left has become a high priority.”
Yarmuth currently chairs the powerful House Budget Committee. This committee sets fiscal targets and often approves reconciliation packages that prevent the Senate from filibustering spending bills.
State Representative Attica Scott (D-Louisville) previously declared a primary challenge against the eight-time elected Yarmuth. Shortly after his announcement on Tuesday, State Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey (D-Louisville) tweeted that he was entering the race for Congress.
Yarmuth stated that he has found an incomparable joy in spending time with his infant grandson and intends to spend more time with family. He also promised to stay on the job for the rest of his term.
“While I have just become a lame duck, I intend to spend the next 15 months working hard to build upon my proudest moment, the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which I authored and managed through the Congress.” Kentucky cities will receive $920 million from ARPA in direct aid to respond to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a statement congratulating Yarmuth:
“I applaud John for his many years of public service and wish him well on his retirement. We always shared a deep affinity for our hometown, Louisville, and a strong sense of loyalty to our constituents and neighbors. I wish John the best as he takes a step back to spend more time with his family.”
The 3rd congressional district currently encompasses all of Louisville Metro except the far east section of the county. State legislators will redraw congressional and state legislative district boundaries during the 2022 session after receiving 2020 Decennial Census counts.
