On Wednesday, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) became the 19th Democrat and the third full committee chair to announce he won't run for reelection in 2022. The move isn't shocking, considering DeFazio, 74, has been a key broker of Democrats' infrastructure packages and the window to pass major legislation isn't likely to be this open again for a very long time.
The solace for Democrats is that for his party's sake, DeFazio picked a good time to retire. Since 1987, DeFazio's populist streak - including skirmishes with Nancy Pelosi — helped him defy the competitive nature of his district, which was politically balanced between Eugene progressives and blue-collar timber areas. But in August, Oregon Democrats passed a new map that shores up the 4th CD substantially.
Under the old lines, President Biden carried the district 50 percent to 46 percent. Under the new lines, which excised conservative areas near Roseburg, Biden carried the district by a more robust 55 percent to 42 percent - the political equivalent of a booster shot. Republican Paris Train hero
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