March 7, 2026 / 12:23 AM EST / CBS/AP
Just three months after declaring “I’m not quitting,” Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California announced Friday he is retiring rather than face a difficult reelection campaign in a redrawn district.
“It’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges,” Issa said in a statement. “…Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life.”
Issa, a car alarm magnate considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress, was a chief antagonist of then-President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while chairing the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2011 to early 2015.
His abrupt reversal adds uncertainty to the race for Southern California’s 48th District, which was drastically reshaped in November after voters approved a new U.S. House map for California intended to favor Democrats. With the incumbent out, it may be harder for Republicans to hold the seat and, by extension, protect the party’s fragile House majority.
After redistricting, Issa briefly explored leaving California to run in Texas but ultimately stayed. At the time he said, “I can hold this seat. I’m not quitting on California and neither should anyone else,” referring to the district anchored in San Diego County.
California’s new congressional map, backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, aims to flip as many as five Republican-held seats to Democrats this year to counter efforts in Texas to gain seats for Republicans. The broader national battle over partisan redistricting continues in several states ahead of the November midterms: voters in Texas and North Carolina have already cast primary ballots under maps drawn at former President Trump’s urging, while boundaries remain unsettled in places like Missouri and Virginia amid legal and referendum fights.
In a social media video Thursday, Obama urged Virginia voters to support redistricting efforts there. Proposed plans by Democratic leaders could shift that state’s delegation from a slim Democratic majority to a much larger one if implemented.
In his retirement statement, Issa endorsed San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond to succeed him.