The Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives leading the probe into the origins of COVID-19 says he won’t run for another term, joining a growing number of members who are set to leave Congress.
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) said in a video on X that he opted against a reelection bid and wants to spend more time with his family.
“Sadly, all too often, the frantic pace of Washington has kept me away from our home,” Dr. Wenstrup said. “I’m ready to change that.”
Dr. Wenstrup, 65, has served in the House since 2013. He knocked off incumbent Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) at the time.
Dr. Wenstrup represents Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, which consists of multiple counties in southern Ohio near Cincinnati and Columbus. He won the 2022 race with 75 percent of the vote.
Before his time in office, Dr. Wenstrup was part of the U.S. Army Reserve. He deployed to Iraq during his time with the military.
“For more than two decades, I’ve been the proud soldier and army surgeon who treated military heroes both in Iraq and here at home. My family and the good people of southern Ohio call me Brad. My two kids just call me dad,” Dr. Wenstrup said.
“Throughout my life, no matter what title I had, I centered my priorities on three strong pillars, God, family and country. God comes first. He’s blessed me with the opportunity to serve others. Family comes next. I work in a place where a lot of people want to be somebody. But a surgeon mentor of mine once said, ‘you don’t have to be somebody somewhere else as long as you’re somebody at home.’ At home—that’s where my amazing wife Monica, and two young children, Brad and Sophia are. And that’s the place where I really want to be somebody.”
Dr. Wenstrup said he would finish his term, which ends in early 2025.
Colleagues lamented Dr. Wenstrup’s planned departure.
“Rep. Wenstrup is a fighter who’s worked tirelessly to push America forward,” Rep. Brian Babb (R-Ga.) said on X. “Congress won’t be the same without him.”
Other Retirements
Dr. Wenstrup is the 23rd member to announce they are leaving Congress, or are running for the Senate.Eight of the members are Republicans, and 15 are Democrats.
Reps. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and David Trone (D-Md.) are among those seeking a slot in the upper chamber.
Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Kay Granger (R-Texas), and John Sarbanes (D-Md.) are among those leaving Congress to seek other positions, or retire completely.
Most of the seats that will be represented by new faces are rated by political handicappers as being safe for the party that now holds them, but not all.
North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, for instance, is rated by some as leaning Republican. The district is currently represented by Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-N.C.).
Michigan’s 7th Congressional District is rated as a toss up despite currently being represented by Ms. Slotkin.
Mr. Jackson is vying to become North Carolina’s attorney general. Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) has also announced a bid for the same post.
The House currently consists of 221 Republicans and 212 Democrats. Republicans flipped the House in the 2022 midterms but failed to capture the Senate.
