GOP congressman retires in a way that almost certainly hands seat to Dems [View all]

[Demovictory9]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/27/this-gop-congressman-just-demonstrated-what-a-headache-retirements-will-be-for-republicans-in-2018/?utm_term=.c94384a5dbcd

On Tuesday, Republicans got a reality check on just how much trouble retirements within their ranks can cause them as they try to retain control of the House of Representatives in November.

It happened in the outer Philadelphia suburbs. Rep. Ryan Costello (R) is retiring after two terms in Congress, and he did it in a way that almost certainly hands Democrats the seat.

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Whatever his reasons, Costello had decided to retire after the filing deadline for new candidates to enter the race had passed. That means Pennsylvania Republicans didn't have a chance to put a new candidate on the ballot, at least not without jumping through hoops that involved Costello staying on the ballot through the May primary. If Costello technically stepped aside after being nominated, the state Republican Party could pick someone to take his place. And then it could try to keep this seat, which has been in Republican hands since 2012.

But Tuesday, Costello said he wouldn't help them do that. As the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jonathan Tamari reports, Costello said he will pull his name off that primary ballot — he is retiring, after all — rather than run in the primary and drop out after he wins. That leaves little-known lawyer Greg McCauley as the only Republican on the ballot. Election analysts at Cook Political Report say he is too conservative for the district, and they give the upper hand to the Democrat in the race, Chrissy Houlahan.