Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan announced Tuesday that he is not seeking reelection at the end of this term, signaling the end of a career after more than three decades in the House.
After representing the western Michigan district since 1987, Mr. Upton faced a tough primary race this year thanks to a combination of redistricting and his vote to impeach former President Donald Trump, who is out for revenge.
“Even the best stories have a last chapter: This is it for me,” Mr. Upton said.
He was among the 10 Republicans that voted to impeach Mr. Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He is the fourth of the “Impeachment 10” to call it quits.
Mr. Trump made a pair of endorsements in the GOP primary in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Kalamazoo and borders Lake Michigan opposite Chicago.
Mr. Trump initially tossed his support behind Steve Carra before backing Rep. Bill Huizenga after the new congressional maps were finished.
For his part, Mr. Trump celebrated the news, suggesting Mr. Upton and the other Republicans that backed impeachment are getting what they deserve.
“UPTON QUITS!” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “4 down and 6 to go. Others losing badly, who’s next?”
Reps. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and John Katko of New York also are not seeking reelection after voting for impeachment.
Speaking on the House floor Tuesday, Mr. Upton thanked his family and staff and said he has worked “alongside real giants who put principle over politics.”
“Hopefully civility and bipartisanship versus discord can rule, not rue, the day,” Mr. Upton said.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, Michigan Democrat, showered Mr. Upton with praise, saying his retirement is a “loss for this country and especially the people of Michigan.”
“While we may not have found harmony on every issue, Fred and I always managed to disagree without vitriolic rhetoric and mean-spirited language,” Mrs. Dingell said. “Even through our toughest discussions, Fred always found a way to make me laugh — except today.
“It is his civility that I and Congress will miss the most,” she said. “Fred really believed he was an American first. That reaching across the aisle was important. That working together is how we get things done for the American people.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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