Congressman Ruppersberger will not seek reelection to District 2 in 2024 – Announces Retirement

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In what many may see as a surprise (I do), Congressman Dutch Ruppersburger (Congressional District 2 in Maryland) announced his retirement on January 26th. Here is that announcement:

Ruppersberger to Retire at End of Term

Ruppersberger has served in public office for more than 37 years

Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger announced today he will not seek reelection at the end of his current term after representing Maryland’s Second District for more than 21 years and serving in local government for 16 years prior. Ruppersberger, a Baltimore native and senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, leaves a legacy of common sense leadership and world-class constituent service.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision for me because, now more than ever, Congress needs thoughtful, end-game representatives like me — members who care more about constituents and our country and less about cable news hits. But it is time to pass the torch to a younger generation of leaders and I am looking forward to spending more time with my family.

I am so proud of what we have accomplished. Together with my staff – which is the best team in the country – we have provided service to countless constituents over the years, including seniors navigating Social Security and Medicare, veterans having trouble accessing their benefits and families facing foreclosure. In Washington, we helped pass landmark legislation expanding access to healthcare insurance, investing in our country’s aging infrastructure and policies to help weather an unprecedented global pandemic and combat climate change.

I want to thank my family, my staff and especially my constituents, who have entrusted me year after year with this tremendous responsibility. I have never forgotten who I work for and tried, every day, to represent you with the decency and integrity you deserve.”

Congressman Ruppersberger was first inspired to run for office after surviving a near-fatal car accident in the 1970s thanks to the care he received at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he continues to be a member of Board of Visitors. After serving two terms each as a Baltimore County Councilman and Baltimore County Executive, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002.

Congressman Ruppersberger served a record 12 years on the House Intelligence Committee, including four as its top Democrat, or Ranking Member, and was among the first lawmakers to address the issue of cybersecurity. He championed policies to counter threats including Russia, China and terrorism. He and his Republican counterpart were the first dual-recipients of the top award in the intelligence community for their bipartisan and pragmatic leadership, which produced five authorization bills, two cyber bills and transparency reform after years of gridlock.

He also served a total of 12 years on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for allocating hundreds of billions of federal dollars each year. He leveraged the role to secure hundreds of millions of dollars for local projects benefitting the Chesapeake Bay, Port of Baltimore, schools, hospitals, police and fire departments and much more. As a member of the Defense subcommittee, he has championed resources for veterans and active-duty troops. In fact, in his first year, he created “Operation Hero Miles” to enable patriotic Americans to donate frequent flyer miles to deployed troops who were previously paying for connecting flights home out-of-pocket. He also currently serves as Chairman of the United States Naval Academy Board of Visitors and co-chair of the bipartisan House Army Caucus.

“There is still so much work left to do in the coming months, from passing responsible budget bills and addressing crime and immigration, to maintaining our national security at a time of extreme global upheaval,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “I remain committed to finding bipartisan solutions, just as I have over the last two decades. And, of course, I will continue to provide the same first-rate service my constituents have come to expect and deserve.”

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View image of text from January 26th here:

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This opens the door for a new congressman in District 2. Maryland Congressional District 2 comprises parts of Carroll and Baltimore counties, as well as small portions of the Baltimore City.

I would expect a mad scramble of candidates over the next 2 weeks before the filing deadline. As additional candidates begin The Observer will keep the residents of Carroll County informed (via a new candidate tracker page…coming this weekend).

This will be the 3rd open Congressional seat in Maryland in 2024 (Districts 3 and 6 will also have newly elected officials).

More to come soon.

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Not to brag….but I did say this back on January 5th…LOL

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