Rep. Blumenauer will not seek reelection after 14 terms in the House

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) announced Monday that he will not seek reelection in 2024 after serving Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District for 27 years.

Blumenauer, who is currently in his 14th term in Congress, said it was a “difficult decision” to not run for reelection in 2024.

“Particularly after the amazing successes of the last several years,” Blumenauer said in a statement Monday. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made. From enacting the largest climate and infrastructure investments in American history, helping 100,000 restaurants survive the COVID-19 crisis expanding heath care coverage for millions and making cannabis reform a mainstream position in American politics.”

Blumenauer, 75, was elected to the U.S. House in a special election in 1996 to fill the seat of Democrat Ron Wyden, who left the lower chamber for his current seat in the Senate.

Oregon’s 3^rd Congressional District, which includes north Portland and much of its southeast, tends to lean fairly blue, with a Cook Partisan Voter Index of D+22, signaling the seat will likely stay in Democratic hands in 2024. According to Ballotpedia, this made Oregon’s 3^rd district the 55^th most Democratic district nationally.

Blumenauer defeated Republican challenger Joanna Harbour in 2022 by a wide lead of 70 percent to 26.3 percent.

As for the 2020 presidential race, Multnomah, Clackamas and Hood River Counties, which are all in part covered by the 3^rd District, swayed largely towards President Biden over former President Trump, according to CNN.  

Despite the several red counties in eastern Oregon, Biden secured 56.5 percent of the statewide vote, compared to Trump, who garnered 40.4 percent, CNN reported.

Blumenauer is currently a member of the Ways and Means Committee, ranking member of the subcommittee on Trade and a member of the subcommittee on Health. 

He is also a senior member on the Budget Committee, with economic security for families a central focus on his platform, his office said.

“From my first minutes on Capitol Hill I have worked to promote a more civil and functioning Congress,” Blumenauer said Monday. “From transit benefits for House employees to the creation of a staff gym and a hand delivered letter to every new member of Congress, I’ve tried to make the Capitol Hill community more livable.”

His work with transportation and planning began in Oregon, having previously served on the Portland City Council and as a commissioner for Multnomah County.

In an interview with Willamette Week earlier Monday, Blumenauer said: “I’m not certain that two more years in Congress in this climate is the best way to deal with things I care about.”

Blumenauer told Willamette Week he is leaving Congress to “be more present” in his community.

His term will run until January 2025, and he told Willamette Week he does not plan to endorse anyone in the race for his seat.

Updated at 10:39 am on Oct. 31.