U.S. Representative Fred Upton of Michigan, who tried to oust Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, announced Tuesday that he won’t go for his re-election to a 19th term in Congress. It appears Donald Trump and redistricting pushed Upton to this decision. Trump said in a statement about the retirement: “Upton Quit!”
WATCH Upton’s news video:
Upton, who is 68, joins Reps. John Katko from New York, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, and Adam Kinzinger from Illinois as Republicans who advocated impeachment but did not seek re-election.
“Even the finest stories have ending chapters. This is it for me”, Upton stated during his remarks on the House floor, as reported.
Upton produced a campaign ad in February that seemed to indicate he was more likely to be running. In the state’s southwestern area, the once-in-a-decade redistricting process had put him in the same GOP-leaning seat as sixth-term U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga.
Huizenga recently received Trump’s support.