Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) announced on Monday that he won’t be running for reelection next year after serving Congress for nearly three decades, saying it’s time to “continue my life’s mission without the burden of day-to-day politics.”
Mr. Blumenauer, who is set to retire after serving 14 terms in Congress, has represented the state’s 3rd congressional district for 27 years. The district covers most of Multnomah County, parts of Clackamas County, and Hood River County, which also includes a portion of Portland.
“For fifty years, I have served in elected office at every level—as a State Legislator, Multnomah County Commissioner, Portland City Council member, and for 27 years as a member of Congress,” the 75-year-old Democrat said in a press release from his office, adding it was “a difficult decision” to not run for reelection.
“I look forward to continuing championing livable communities starting right here in Portland and being a resource and a partner for the next generation,” he added.
The congressman’s decision not to run for reelection likely sets the stage for a potentially contested Democratic primary to fill his Portland seat in 2024.
In a 45-minute interview with Willamette Week published on Oct. 30, Mr. Blumenauer revealed that he would not endorse anyone in the race for his seat in the state’s deep-blue district.
According to the paper, candidates expected to announce running for Mr. Blumenauer’s seat include Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, former Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, Portland state Rep. Travis Nelson, and Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales.
Mr. Blumenauer joins a number of other Democrats who have already said they’re either leaving Congress to retire or run for another office, such as Reps. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.).
House Republicans who are either not seeking reelection or are running for another office include Reps. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and Dan Bishop (R-N.C.).
Cannabis Reform
Known for his trademark bow ties, Mr. Blumenauer was first elected in 1972 to the Oregon House of Representatives. He has been recognized as one of America’s most staunch advocates for cannabis and has spent much of his political career advocating to legalize marijuana and make streets safer for people biking.
Mr. Blumenauer became involved in marijuana reform as a state legislator when Oregon became the first U.S. state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis in 1973. In 2017, the Democrat also helped the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, which recently lobbied to end the prohibition on using federal funds for marijuana research.
“I have dedicated my career to creating livable communities where people are safe, healthy, and economically secure,” Mr. Blumenauer said in Monday’s news release.
“This mission has guided my involvement in Congress on a wide range of issues. I may best be known in Portland for work on light rail, streetcars, and bicycles,” he added. “But our work also included critical issues of war and peace, championing the fight to end the failed war on drugs, helping to write the Affordable Care Act, rescuing independent restaurants, food and farm policy, animal welfare, and writing the single largest investment in renewable energy in history.”
Oregon Democrats offered tributes to Mr. Blumenauer after he announced on Monday that he’ll retire at the end of his current term, which came after months of speculation he might not run again.
“Since I was in high school, Earl Blumenauer has been a powerful force in the policy and politics of Oregon and America,” Progressive Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said in a post on X. “He is a national leader on issues from urban transportation and housing to climate and cannabis. I so thank him for his over fifty years of public service.”
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) also offered tributes to Mr. Blumenauer in an Oct. 30 post on X, saying she appreciates “the advice you gave me when I was just getting started earlier this year.” Ms. Chavez-DeRemer currently represents Oregon’s 5th Congressional District and was elected in 2022 to replace Rep. Kurt Schrader.
