Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri).
Kylie Cooper | Reuters
Republican Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced Friday that he will not seek reelection, joining a wave of retirements ahead of the midterm elections.
Mr. Graves, 62, has represented a staunch Republican and rural area of northern Missouri since 2001. Just last month, he filed for reelection in what would have been his 14th term campaign. But in a social media post on Friday, he said he was “making room for the next generation.”
So far, 58 House members have resigned or run for other positions, putting Congress on track for a record number of members.
Graves made the announcement days before Tuesday’s nomination filing deadline in Missouri.
“It’s time to pass the torch and allow a new rearguard of conservative leaders to come forward and chart the path forward for Missouri,” Graves said.
Graves was at the center of a debate about aviation safety and the investigation into the deadly 2025 crash between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter over the Potomac River.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) was among those who praised Graves. He said the longtime councilor “has helped deliver some of our community’s most important projects over the past several generations.”
Graves’ district is considered safe for Republicans, but the party faces headwinds as it seeks to maintain its House majority. Polls show that most Americans believe U.S. military action against Iran has gone too far, and voters are increasingly concerned about President Donald Trump’s failure to address affordability issues.
President Trump dismissed concerns at a gathering of Republican lawmakers this week, predicting his party would win a majority in Congress after the November election.
