Retiring lawmaker’s 2018 opponent won’t run for seat, citing ‘difficult’ pregnancies

Liuba Grechen Shirley, Rep. Pete King’s (R-N.Y.) opponent in the 2018 midterm elections, will not run for the seat again after King announced his retirement last week.

“My last 2 deliveries were incredibly difficult & required long recovery periods, and I can’t run unless I know I can put 100% in,” Shirley tweeted Monday.

“At this point, I don’t think that’s possible for me,” Shirley added in a video accompanying the tweet. “Now, that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop fighting for moms on the campaign trail. We need to change the way that our campaigns and our government work so that more moms and yes, even pregnant moms, feel that they can step up and run.”

I’m thrilled to announce that Chris & I are welcoming our third baby in April. Today I’m also announcing I won’t be running for Congress in 2020.

My last 2 deliveries were incredibly difficult & required long recovery periods, and I can’t run unless I know I can put 100% in. pic.twitter.com/FLLzal93t6

— Liuba Grechen Shirley (@liuba4congress) November 18, 2019

Shirley is the founder of Vote Mama, an organization that provides support and resources to Democratic women with young children running for office.

In the video, Shirley goes on to pledge to support the Democratic nominee for the seat in the 2020.

King announced his retirement last week after 14 terms. He defeated Shirley by 6 points in 2018, the slimmest margin of his career except for 1992, when he was first elected by a 4-point margin. As recently as last week, Shirley responded to King’s announcement by saying she was “seriously considering” another run.

Addressing King, Shirley added “as your political career comes to a close, I hope that you find the bipartisan bravery you were so often falsely applauded for, and I urge you to support the impeachment and removal of the president.”

Jackie Gordon, a councilwoman for the town of Babylon, N.Y., has announced her candidacy to be the Democratic nominee for the district. 

“I think Liuba did a great job last time, she actually paved the way for where we are in this campaign,” Gordon told The Hill on Monday. “She ran an awesome grassroots campaign [and] she is an example to moms who are trying to run and get elected and she’s doing a great job with her PAC supporting women who are trying to get elected and so that momentum that she started is the driving force for our campaign, so I thank her and I congratulate her.”

—Updated at 4:51 p.m.