Ted Deutch becomes 31st House Democrat to announce retirement from Congress

Rep. Ted DeutchTheodore (Ted) Eliot DeutchPelosi vows US will fight with Israel ‘against terrorism posed by Iran’ Pelosi leading congressional delegation to Israel, Germany, UK Gloria Estefan presses House Judiciary on radio royalties bill MORE (D-Fla.) announced on Monday that he will not run for reelection in November, becoming the 31st House Democrat to announce they will not run for reelection in the lower chamber this November.

Deutch will become the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, and in his statement he highlighted an “unprecedented rise in antisemitism” in the U.S. and around the globe.

Deutch, 55, has represented Florida in Congress since 2010, but moved to the 22nd congressional district from the 21st district in 2017 after redistricting.

The race before Deutch’s announcement was not considered competitive by the Cook Political Report and Deutsch won with 56 percent of the vote in 2020.

CBS Miami first reported on Deutch’s decision to not run for reelection.

“Beyond foreign policy, we have also seen an unprecedented rise in antisemitism in our own country and abroad, and I have been at the forefront of the Congressional response as the founding co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism,” Deutch said in his annoucement.

“This critical work, and the opportunity to do it on a global scale, is why I am announcing that I will not be running for re-election to Congress as I have accepted an offer to serve as the next Chief Executive Officer of the American Jewish Committee,” he added.

Democrats are facing tough headwinds ahead of this year’s midterm elections and are widely expected to lose the House majority, a factor that is likely playing a role in the rush of retirements that have been announced this cycle.

Mike Lillis contributed to this report.