The longtime Republican lawmaker said the time had come for a “new chapter,” while endorsing San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond to run for the newly drawn congressional seat.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Republican Congressman Darrell Issa announced Friday that he will not seek another term in the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing an end to a congressional career that has spanned multiple decades.
The California lawmaker revealed the decision in a public statement shared on X, where he also offered his endorsement for San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond to run for the congressional seat created under California’s newly redrawn district map.
Issa said the decision followed years of service in both business and government and expressed confidence that the district would remain competitive for Republicans.
“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,” Issa posted.
The announcement comes after California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed through a revised congressional map designed to reshape the state’s political landscape. The redistricting effort seeks to eliminate several seats currently held by Republicans, potentially affecting as many as five districts, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
Issa had previously indicated he would run in the new district despite the political shift but ultimately opted against pursuing another campaign.
His departure adds another variable to an already competitive national environment as Republicans attempt to hold their slim control of the House. The chamber currently stands at a 218-214 majority for the GOP, leaving little margin for losses in upcoming elections.
Issa first entered Congress in 2000 after building a career in business. His entrepreneurial background included securing dozens of patents; his official biography states he holds 37 patents tied to technology and automotive innovations.
During his initial tenure on Capitol Hill, Issa served nine consecutive terms before announcing in 2017 that he would leave Congress, a decision widely reported at the time by outlets including The Hill.
He later returned to national office in 2020 after challenging fellow Republican Rep. Duncan D. Hunter in California. Hunter had been indicted in connection with the misuse of campaign funds, opening the door for Issa’s successful bid to reenter the House, where he went on to serve three additional terms.
Throughout his congressional career, Issa played prominent roles in several high-profile investigations. From 2011 through 2015 he chaired the House Oversight Committee, where lawmakers examined the Obama administration’s handling of Operation Fast and Furious, a firearms trafficking investigation that resulted in hundreds of semi-automatic rifles being allowed to move into the possession of Mexican drug cartels. During that inquiry, the House of Representatives voted in 2012 to hold then-Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress after he declined to provide subpoenaed documents related to the operation.
More recently, Issa participated in congressional efforts examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 13 American service members killed in an Aug. 26, 2021 bombing outside Kabul’s airport during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. In August 2023, he hosted a forum where family members of the fallen troops sharply criticized the Biden administration over the attack.
In announcing his decision to step aside, Issa used the same statement to promote Desmond as his preferred successor for the newly configured congressional district.
“I’m announcing my enthusiastic endorsement of Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress – to represent California’s new 48th district,” Issa said. “Jim is not only a personal friend, he’s a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has a 20-year record of public service. He understands this community, was born and raised here, and will make a terrific Congressman.”
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