Rep. Darrell Issa Announces Retirement from Congress

California Republican Representative Darrell Issa announced Friday that he will retire at the end of his current term and will not seek reelection in the newly redrawn 48th Congressional District, which spans parts of San Diego and Riverside counties.

Issa, 72, made the decision public on the filing deadline for candidates, citing his long career in public service and business as a factor. "This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didn't make it lightly," he said in a statement. "After a quarter century in Congress and before that, a quarter century in business, it's the right time for a new chapter and new challenges." The announcement came after months of speculation about his plans, including a brief consideration of running for a House seat in Texas late last year. At the time, Issa stated he was committed to staying in California, saying, "I'm not quitting on California."

The district's boundaries were redrawn following voter approval of Proposition 50 in November, a measure that shifted the area's political makeup. Previously, the district leaned Republican, with former President Donald Trump carrying it by 15 percentage points in 2020. Under the new map, it now...