Ryan Zinke announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026

A second House Republican has announced that he is retiring from Congress at the end of this year, sparking a mass exodus of lawmakers who set out to step out of the president’s midterms. By Donald Trump Second term.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who won his seat in Montana’s 1st Congressional District in November 2022, served as interior secretary during Trump’s first White House term.

From 2015 to 2017, he served as Montana’s only member of the House, adding another seat to his delegation before redistricting.

Zinke is the 35th House Republican elected in 2024 and is not seeking a second term until the 2026 midterms. Another House GOP lawmaker up for re-election in 2024, the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died in office earlier this year.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., arrives for a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill, May 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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Many of its members are running for other offices. But former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga. and Mark Green, R-Tenn. As such, some did not make further public plans in politics, including those who left before the end of their terms.

Zinke had a decade-long career US Navy Prior to joining Congress, he attained the rank of Commander before retiring in 2008.

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He cited medical reasons for his decision not to run again in November, according to a letter shared on X.

Zinke cited medical reasons for his decision to retire. (Getty Images via Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, Inc.)

“While I believe in term limits for elected office, I have quietly undergone several surgeries since returning to Congress and unfortunately faced many more shortly after leaving office,” Zinke said in his statement.

“Injuries sustained during a career in Special Operations are not immediately life-threatening, but repair cannot be postponed and recovery will take a long time with my wife Lola and my family. My judgment and experience tell me that full-time representation in Congress is better for Montana and America than risking an indefinite absence and losing votes.”

He said it was his “highest honor” to serve Montana in his various military and political roles.

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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump leave the White House to head to the U.S. Capitol where they deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026. (Manuel Bals Seneta/AP Photo)

Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont. also confirmed Zinke’s retirement in his own statement shared with the media.

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“For more than 30 years, Commander Zinke has served our country with integrity, responsibility and honor,” Downing said. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve with Ryan in Washington fighting for Montanans – from protecting our public lands to supporting our farmers and ranchers.”

The non-partisan Cook Political Report rated Zinke’s seat R+5, meaning it is likely to remain in Republican hands but Democrats hope to flip the district this year.

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