Chris EspinosaMar 8

One cause of “wave elections” is when the majority party clearly sees that it is going to lose, the incumbents near retirement exit early because they don’t want to spend the last two to six years of their career in the minority.

https://rollcall.com/2026/03/04/sen-steve-daines-announces-surprise-retirement/

Sen. Steve Daines announces surprise retirement

Montana Republican Steve Daines withdrew his Senate reelection paperwork Wednesday minutes before the deadline.

Roll Call
Show threadPete GontierMar 8
@Cdespinosa Cause? Or harbinger?
Show threadDan Wright
@integerpoet @Cdespinosa ..both? The pessimism of the older, retiring incumbents becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: they would have been heavily favored to win—their party replacement instead faces long odds.
Mar 8 at 8:01amIvory for Mac