Republican Representative Darrell Issa of California has announced he will not seek re-election, ending a congressional career spanning over two decades. Issa, whose southern California district was recently redrawn under Proposition 50, said in a statement on Friday, the final day for candidate filing, that it was time for a new chapter.
Issa, first elected to Congress in 2001, previously retired in 2018 after a narrow re-election win but returned in 2021. He represents parts of San Diego County, including District 48, which shifted from a 12-point Republican advantage to a four-point Democratic lead following the passage of Proposition 50, a ballot measure aimed at countering gerrymandering.
An outspoken opponent of Proposition 50, Issa had briefly considered moving to Texas to run for Congress after its passage last autumn. In his announcement, he endorsed San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who withdrew his candidacy for District 49 to run for Issa's seat.
