January 1, GOP Rep. Kinzinger not seeking reelection, vows ‘broader fight nationwide’ against Trumpism

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) said he is not seeking reelection next year, marking an end to a 12-year congressional career capped off by outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump.

“There’s little to no desire to bridge our differences, and unity is no longer a word we use,” Kinzinger said in a video announcing his retirement in January 2023. “It has also become increasingly obvious that in order to break the narrative, I cannot focus on both a reelection to Congress and a broader fight nationwide.”

“I want to make it clear,” he added. “This isn’t the end of my political future, but the beginning.”

Kinzinger is one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January after the riot at the U.S. Capitol. He is the second member of that group to announce their retirement from Congress, joining Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (OH).

Hours after Kinzinger’s announcement, Trump released a statement that read, “2 down, 8 to go!”

“In this day, to prevail or survive, you must belong to a tribe,” Kinzinger said in the video. “Our political parties only survive by appealing to the most motivated and the most extreme elements within it. And the price tag to power has skyrocketed, and fear and distrust has served as an effective strategy to meet that cost.”

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Kinzinger retiring from Congress, vows ‘broader fight nationwide’ against Trumpism

Photo by Hudson Institute with the license CC BY 2.0.