Victoria Spartz, a House Republican from Indiana who just won two terms, announced on Friday that she plans to retire from politics at the end of 2024.
“It is an honor to represent Indiana in the Indiana State Senate and the U.S. Congress and I appreciate your strong support on the ground,” Spartz, 44, said in a news release. “2024 will mark seven years of holding elected office and more than ten years in Republican politics. I won many tough battles for people and will work hard to win some more in the next two years. However, being a mother is hard work and I have to spend more time with my two daughters homeschooling, so I won’t be in the office in 2024.
Spartz’s announcement comes when Republicans have begun flexing new power in the House. Spartz initially opposed Kevin McCarthy’s bid for House speaker, but eventually committed to supporting him after voting “now” in several rounds of voting. He also rejected McCarthy’s efforts to deny Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, only to relent after McCarthy agreed to allow language that gives Omar the opportunity to appeal the decision.
In withholding her support in both cases, Spartz seems to be using the slim Republican majority to raise her profile. Last week he was in and out of the speaker’s office for meetings. But maybe he didn’t like the work. Twice, HuffPost heard him say, “Someone needs to grow up in the room.”
His announcement was surprising, given that Spartz was just beginning his second term in Congress and was relatively young by congressional standards. Even some of his friends were blind. “SHOCKED,” one House Republican told HuffPost in a message.
Spartz is the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress after immigrating to the US in her 20s. In March, he was disinvited from a congressional delegation’s trip to Ukraine. CNN reported that Spartz had expressed interest in joining the bipartisan group but was denied an official spot.
He has been outspoken about his country of birth – sometimes to the frustration of his colleagues – and what he believes is necessary to prevent Russian aggression. “President Zelensky should stop playing politics and theater, and start organizing to support the military and local governments,” Spartz said in a July statement.
His move also closes the door on a Senate bid in 2024 for Sen. Mike Braun’s (R-Ind.) open seat.
Spartz, a certified public accountant, was first elected to Congress in 2020 after several years in the state Senate.
Arthur Delaney and Jen Bendery contributed reporting.