Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) announced on Thursday that he will not seek reelection in 2024.
Wenstrup shared the news in a video, noting plans to retire and spend more time with his family after serving in the role being elected in 2012.
A heartfelt message. pic.twitter.com/XshgO24H5t
— Brad Wenstrup (@bradwenstrup) November 10, 2023
"I work in a place where a lot of people want to be somebody, but a surgeon mentor of mine once said, ‘You don’t have to be somebody somewhere else as long as you’re somebody at home,’” Wenstrup said.
"Sadly, all too often, the frantic pace of Washington has kept me away from our home. I'm ready to change that," he added.
I feel like it's an episode of "Another One Bites the Dust" in D.C. today...
Ohio Republican Rep. Brad Wenstrup announced he will retire from Congress at the “end of next year.”https://t.co/XHK1Ah6IiW— Monica 🌊🌻💙🏳️🌈 (@softtail65) November 10, 2023
"Wenstrup has served in Congress since 2013 and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and chairs the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic," the Hill reported.
"He previously served in the Army Reserve from 1998 to 2022 and spent time in Iraq as a combat surgeon in the mid-2000s," it continued.
U.S. Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) will not seek re-election in 2024, he announced Thursday.https://t.co/OG3RRu424x
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) November 10, 2023
"Wenstrup, a Republican, was born and raised in Cincinnati and attended St. Xavier High School. He then attended the University of Cincinnati before attending Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science," WLWT-TV reported.
"In 2012, Wenstrup ran for the United States House of Representatives in Ohio's 2nd congressional district, which was previously held by congresswoman Jean Schmidt," it noted.
After five terms in the House, Wenstrup's retirement announcement is likely to set off a heated race for his replacement.
So far, no Republicans have announced a run, but candidates are expected to soon launch a run for the election that comes in under a year.
Ohio recently suffered losses among conservatives during off-year elections in the state, adding more reasons to fight back stronger to hold Wenstrup's seat next year. Whoever wins the primary in the district may also find themselves on the same ballot as former President Donald Trump, running during a year where voter turnout is expected to be at its highest in the potential 2020 rematch with President Joe Biden.
