Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick Not Running in 2022

Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona announced Friday that she will not seek reelection in 2022. Kirkpatrick has served her five terms across three separate spans. She was first elected in 2008 in District 1, a sprawling region that covered most of the eastern half of the state.  Kirkpatrick lost reelection in 2010 to Republican Paul Gosar.  After the Census, District 1 became more favorable to Democrats and Kirkpatrick successfully ran for her old seat in 2012. (Gosar ran in District 4 where he still serves today).

Kirkpatrick unsuccessfully challenged Republican Senator John McCain in 2016. She returned to the House after winning the 2018 election in District 2, which encompasses the  southeastern corner of the state. She won her final term in 2020 by 10 points.

"Serving Arizonans has been my absolute honor and joy, but after much consideration, I have decided not to seek re-election in 2022. I will continue the good fight through this Congress, and when the term is up, I will hand over the baton." https://t.co/jBuB85SeHH

— Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (@RepKirkpatrick) March 12, 2021

The only other retirement announced thus far this cycle is Eddie Johnson (D, TX-30). In 2019, Johnson said "I fully intended to retire after my current term, but with much pressure and encouragement, I have agreed to one more term." More departures are sure to follow, with some driven by the upcoming Census redistricting. However, with those Census results significantly delayed, the 2022 cycle will likely develop much more slowly than usual.