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Rep. Dwight Evans becomes latest septuagenarian House Democrat not running in 2026

Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) said Monday he will retire in 2026 after initially telling Axios he planned to run for reelection to his Philadelphia-based seat.Why it matters: The 71-year-old is the latest in what many younger Democrats hope will be a wave of septuagenarian and octogenarian lawmakers opting not to try to hold onto their seats.The party is engaged in an internal civil war over age, with older lawmakers across the country facing primary challenges from younger insurgents tired of waiting for them to retire.Evans, who suffered a stroke last year that kept him from voting at the Capitol for much of 2024 and has since confined him to a walker, has been among the prime targets of those efforts.What he's saying: "I remain in good health and fully capable of continuing to serve," Evans said in a statement.But, he added, "After some discussions this weekend and thoughtful reflection, I have decided that the time is right to announce that I will not be seeking re-election in 2026."The House Democrat, who has served in Congress since 2016 and was previously a state legislator for 35 years, said he will serve out the remainder of his term through Jan. 3, 2027.Zoom out: Evans is the third House Democrat this year to announce their retirement without plans to seek higher office. All were over 70.Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said in April he would retire — and relinquish his role as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee — after his esophageal cancer returned. The 75-year-old died the following month.Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), 81, announced in May she would retire amid a primary challenge from 26-year-old progressive Kat Abughazaleh.What to watch: Democrats' younger wing is hoping this will just be the beginning, with progressive groups saying they expect dozens of older incumbents to face primary challenges.The hope among grassroots activists is that many of these incumbent members will be compelled to retire rather than fight brutal reelection battles after years of facing only token opposition.But more than half of the 30 House Democrats who are 75 or older have told Axios they plan to run for reelection — setting the stage for bruising fights across the country.Editor's note; This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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