The Washington Post statistics show that at least 18 former members of Congress are seeking to return to Congress before 2026, including 11 Democrats and 7 Republicans. This "return" phenomenon contrasts sharply with the ongoing exodus of members within Congress. As of December 4, 2025, 41 sitting House members have announced they will not run for re-election or will leave earlier than the midterm elections, due to reasons such as moving to higher positions, voluntary retirement, or ending their political careers (partial data is shown in the table below). Against the backdrop of low overall support for Congress, this wave of retirement announcements is seen as an important indicator of political turbulence before the midterm elections.
Several returning figures come with controversy and high visibility. Corey Bush, a former member of the "Progressive Caucus" in Missouri, became famous through the documentary "Knock Down the House" and was the first African American woman to enter Congress in the state. Three years later, she lost in the party's primary election and now seeks to make a comeback. In a Florida race, two former Republican lawmakers, Madison Cawthorn and Chris Collins, even directly face each other in a state unrelated to their political backgrounds: the former has been controversial over traffic violations, carrying guns, and inappropriate videos, while the latter was convicted of insider trading, resigned, and was pardoned by Trump. Faced with the desire of these "old faces" to return, the general reaction from current legislators is contradictory: the operation of Congress is frustrating, but the return of familiar colleagues is still seen as a comfort.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/1853003659503627/
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