Kildee Not Seeking Re-Election to Michigan House Seat – Representative Dan Kildee, a native of Flint, Michigan, with a decade-long career in the House and a rise through the House Democratic ranks over six terms, has announced that he will not seek reelection in his battleground Michigan district. He revealed that his decision to leave elected office after this term is influenced by health issues he faced this year.
Opting not to seek reelection, Representative Dan Kildee’s choice creates a competitive vacancy in mid-Michigan within the recently redrawn 8th District, which he comfortably secured last fall when the GOP faced challenges in recruiting a formidable opponent. Presently, Republicans find themselves without a prominent candidate for this election, adding urgency to their efforts to flip a seat that narrowly supported President Joe Biden in 2020.
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Although he’s stepping down from elected office, Kildee emphasized that he is not retiring and intends to actively campaign throughout Michigan in 2024. With an impressive war chest of nearly $1 million from his last quarter’s campaign funds, he’s well-equipped to support Democratic candidates, especially those vying for his own Flint-area seat.
Hailing from Michigan, Kildee, the co-chair of the Democratic caucus’ steering committee and a member of the influential Ways and Means panel, shares a close relationship with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Since both entered Congress together in 2013, Kildee actively supported Jeffries, serving on his whip team during the 2018 leadership elections. Early in their Capitol Hill careers, Kildee encouraged Jeffries to pursue the caucus’ top position when the opportunity arose.
In his conversation with Jeffries about the decision, Kildee expressed the difficulty of leaving, acknowledging the potential to miss serving under the first Black speaker in history if Democrats regain control of the House. Despite no longer being a member of Congress, he pledged to attend the swearing-in ceremony. A longtime ally of Joe Biden, Kildee also shared his plans with the president, and they are scheduled to meet at the White House soon.
While Kildee’s departure surprised many colleagues, it wasn’t entirely unexpected among those familiar with him. Over the past few years, the Michigan Democrat has faced personal health challenges and become increasingly vocal about the growing dysfunction and trust issues among House members. “When I weigh how things are working here, and maybe a different way I can make a difference back home and be close to family, it became a pretty easy decision,” he said.
In January 2021, he found himself among two dozen members trapped in the House gallery during the pro-Trump riot, leading to his later treatment for PTSD. Open about his mental health struggles, he also faced the challenge of collaborating with Republicans who downplayed the attack. Two years later, Kildee received a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, but by April of this year, he had successfully overcome cancer.
Throughout most of the year, Kildee actively considered running again. However, his battle with cancer prompted a thorough reassessment, and although he hasn’t determined his next steps, he clarified that he won’t pursue any other elected office, hinting at a possible return to the nonprofit sector. Notably, Kildee’s legislative legacy prominently features his advocacy for the $170 million package addressing Flint’s severe water contamination crisis—one of the most significant municipal water crises in modern history.
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He vividly recalled the moment in December 2016 when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi assigned him to negotiate a funding deal directly with then-Speaker Paul Ryan to address the Flint crisis. She had informed Ryan on the phone that he would need to meet one of Democrats’ priorities to advance a year-end spending deal, but didn’t say which. She simply told Ryan: “I’m going to send someone over right now to work out the details,” Kildee recalled.