Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2021

 

Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI-10) will not seek a third term in Congress. In his announcement, he said “rhetoric [is] overwhelming policy” and claimed he wants to spend more time with his family. He will continue to serve out his term until 2021.

“Everything’s about politics. Everything’s about an election. And at some point of time, that’s not why I came here,” the two-term representative first told Politico Tuesday.

A day later in a House Floor speech announcing his decision, he emotionally described how he wanted to spend more time with his family. Mitchell also noted his mission in Congress was to “make a difference in the world” and called it an honor to represent the people of Michigan’s 10th District.

“A career in Washington has never been my objective. My objective has always been simply to work to address significant challenges this nation faces: health care, immigration, and infrastructure for example,” Mitchell said.

July has been a turbulent month for Michigan Republicans with Mitchell leaving politics and Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI-3) quitting the party altogether. Both representatives had been critical of President Donald Trump. Mitchell said Trump “must do better” in a tweet and Amash tweeted asking Republicans if the party represented “your principles and values.”

.@RealDonaldTrump, we must be better than comments like these. I share the political frustrations with some members of the other party, but these comments are beneath leaders. https://t.co/4b8e5hlSZI

— Rep. Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) July 15, 2019

Mitchell came to Washington after winning an open seat in 2016 when long-time Rep. Candice S. Miller retired after 14 years. However, Miller, now the Macomb County Public Works commissioner, was critical of Mitchell’s decision to not seek reelection.

She described his comments as “leaving something to be desired” and said reading his “rant” on Politico was not “the best way to find out your Member of Congress is not seeking re-election.”

“The time is right now for a new person to step forward who fully appreciates the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with serving as the Member of Congress from this great district,” she said.

Strong words from Rep. Paul Mitchell’s predecessor, former Rep. Candice Miller ⁦@MillerMCPW⁩: pic.twitter.com/2NkWl65sFi

— Melissa Nann Burke (@nannburke) July 24, 2019

Michigan’s 10th District is heavily Republican and four out of the last five representatives have been members of the GOP. In the 2016 election, this district favored Trump by 32 points over Hillary Clinton.

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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Battleground State News. Follow Zachery on Twitter.
Photo “Paul Mitchell” by Paul Mitchell.