California Rep. Grace Napolitano has announced her retirement from Congress at the end of her current term, marking the end of a 25-year career in the House. The Democrat expressed her gratitude towards the people of the San Gabriel Valley and Southeastern Los Angeles County for their trust and support. Napolitano, who hails from Texas, represents a majority-Latino district in the Los Angeles area and is currently serving her 13th term in Congress.
At 86 years old, Napolitano is the oldest member of the House. Despite her retirement, her 31st Congressional District in California is expected to remain noncompetitive for Republicans in the 2024 elections. In the 2022 election, Napolitano won with 59.5% of the vote in a redrawn district that President Joe Biden would have carried by 31 points in 2020.
Throughout her tenure in Washington, Napolitano has been an advocate for mental health care and has served as a co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. She has worked to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and promote access to treatment. Napolitano has also been involved in various committees, including the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure panel. She is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and previously chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Reflecting on her time in Congress, Napolitano highlighted the growth of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which has expanded from 18 members to 42 members since she first joined in 1999. As she prepares to leave office, Napolitano joins a growing list of Democrats who have announced they will not seek reelection in 2024. In California alone, three of her colleagues, Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee, are also leaving their districts to pursue the open Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Napolitano’s retirement marks the end of a long and impactful career in Congress. Her dedication to mental health issues and her contributions to various committees have left a lasting impact. As she looks towards the future, Napolitano expressed her gratitude to the people she has served and her pride in the progress made during her tenure in Washington.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-07-08 21:29:00