Another House Republican to quit citing Capitol Hill 'dysfunction'

Another Republican announced Thursday he's leaving the House and heading home.

Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS) declared his decision not to seek reelection in the fall in a public statement on X that both acknowledged and downplayed criticisms that his party has spurred chaos in the House of Representatives.

"Undoubtedly the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill is distressing," LaTurner wrote. "But it almost always has been; we just didn't see most of it."

LaTurner, 36, said he left to pursue other opportunities, unspecified with the exception of the chance to spend more time with his wife Suzanne and their four young children.

"I remain optimistic about the future of this country not only because we have overcome more significant obstacles in the past, but that the vast majority of people I have served with are good and trying to do the right thing," he wrote.

"It has become fashionable for some to fear for the future of this country and act as though the problems we face and the divisions that exist are insurmountable, but that is just not true."

LaTurner joins more than 20 House Republicans who this year have announced they've had it with Congress.

His announcement comes a day before Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) was due to leave after making a similar resignation announcement in March.

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Gallagher's early departure, which is now likely to be pushed back to Saturday, will leave his party with a single vote to spare on upcoming legislation, NBC reported at the time.

LaTurner said his name will not appear on the congressional ballot in 2024 nor in state elections in 2026 but hinted at future opportunities to "advocate for the issues I care most about."

LaTurner took public office at the age of 24 when he was sworn into the Kansas State Senate in 2013.