The former press secretary of George W. Bush claims that Republicans should be concerned over Rep. Mac Thornberry’s announcement that he is planning to retire after his current term ends.
“Republicans should be worried,” Ari Fleischer warned during an interview on America’s Newsroom. “Look, what happened in the 2018 election, if that’s any indication, it’s that Republicans have a problem, particularly in college educated suburban areas around suburban areas around Dallas, Houston, etc.”
“This is worrisome,” Fleischer added, pointing out that one district in Houston with highly educated population turned to the Democratic side in 2018 after being Republican in the past three decades.
Thornberry announced his retirement in a tweet, writing: “It has been a great honor to serve the people of the 13th District of Texas as their congressman for the last 25 years. They have given me opportunities to serve the nation in ways I could have never imagined, including as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. We are reminded, however, that ‘for everything there is a season,’ and I believe that the time has come for a change. Therefore, this is my last term in the U.S. House of Representatives.” The congressman had served 13 terms after first joining the legislative body back in 1994, Newsweek reports.
Thornberry’s retirement news follows five other Republicans from Texas who said they will not seek reelection in 2020. In total, more than a dozen Republicans from across the country have stated publicly that they will not stand in their constituencies’ next races. The other GOP lawmakers from Texas stepping down include Representatives Mike Conway, Will Hurd, Kenny Marchant, Bill Flores and Pete Olson.
While Fleischer pointed to concerns about the GOP struggling to attract voters with higher education, others have warned that the party is failing to attract minorities as well.
Hurd, who is currently the only black Republican serving in the House of Representatives and is one of the Texas lawmakers stepping aside, said this summer that his party needs to do a better job at reaching minorities.
“I shouldn’t be the only African American Republican in the House of Representatives,” the congressman told NBC News in July.
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