Representative Doc Hastings, a Republican who has represented Washington State for 20 years and who is chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, announced Thursday that he would retire at the end of the year, joining a growing number of veterans heading for the congressional exits.
Mr. Hastings’s conservative district in central Washington is not expected to be a battleground in the fight for control of the House, but his departure accelerates the brain drain on Capitol Hill. Other Republicans who have announced their departures, or have already left, include Representative Howard “Buck†McKeon of California, chairman of the Armed Services Committee; Representative Jo Bonner of Alabama, chairman of the Ethics Committee; Representatives Frank R. Wolf of Virginia and Tom Latham of Iowa, senior leaders of the Appropriations Committee; and Representative Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee.
“Last Friday, I celebrated my 73rd birthday, and while I have the ability and seniority to continue serving central Washington, it is time for the voters to choose a new person with new energy to represent them in the people’s House,†Mr. Hastings said in a statement.
The rash of retirements in both parties reflects disillusion with the dysfunction in Washington, growing partisanship and the flow of outside money into congressional races that has eroded lawmakers’ independence. The retirements have slightly expanded the playing field for the midterm elections, and in some cases have all but assured that control of a district will switch parties. Republicans are virtually assured seats held by Democrats in Utah and North Carolina. Democrats are likely to pick up the seat of Representative Gary G. Miller, Republican of California.
Mr. Hastings â€" like Representatives Henry A. Waxman and George Miller, both Democrats of California who are leaving Congress â€" is a legislative veteran who has increasingly been stymied in efforts to work across party lines.
