Montana Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke announced Monday that he will not seek reelection, becoming the 52nd member of Congress to depart the chamber following the November midterms in what is shaping up to be a significant turnover on Capitol Hill.
Zinke, a former Navy SEAL who first represented Montana in Congress from 2014 to 2017 and returned to office in 2023, said his decision was driven by health concerns stemming from his years of service in Special Operations.
In a statement, the congressman revealed he has undergone multiple surgeries since returning to Congress and faces several more procedures once his term concludes.
“While my belief in term limits for elected office is a consideration, I have quietly undergone multiple surgeries since I returned to Congress and unfortunately face several more immediately after leaving office,” Zinke said. He added that the injuries sustained during his military career are not immediately life-threatening but require medical attention that “cannot be deferred any longer.” Recovery, he noted, will demand significant time with his wife, Lola, and their family.
Zinke will complete the remainder of his current term before stepping away, joining dozens of lawmakers who will leave Washington after the fall election. In total, 52 members of Congress — 31 Republicans and 21 Democrats — are set to exit next winter, creating an opening that Democrats have signaled they hope to exploit.
Montana’s congressional landscape is already drawing attention. Of the state’s two congressional districts, Zinke’s 1st District is rated as leaning Republican, according to the Cook Political Report, while the 2nd District is considered solidly Republican. Democrats have identified Zinke’s seat as competitive territory, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee labeling the district “in play” as they aim to flip one of the state’s seats.
Zinke’s political career has spanned both Congress and the executive branch. He was first elected to Montana’s at-large House seat in 2014. During President Donald Trump’s first term, Zinke stepped down from Congress to serve as Secretary of the Interior. After his tenure in the administration, he returned to Capitol Hill, winning election in 2022 to represent Montana’s newly drawn 1st Congressional District.
In announcing his departure, Zinke emphasized that his decision was guided not only by health considerations but also by a desire to ensure Montanans have consistent and fully present representation in Washington.
“My judgment and experience tell me it is better for Montana and America to have full-time representation in Congress than run the risk of uncertain absence and missed votes,” he said.
As Washington braces for a wave of retirements, Zinke’s exit marks the end of another chapter for a lawmaker whose career has been shaped by military service and national leadership. For Montana voters, the focus now shifts to the race ahead — and to who will carry the torch in Big Sky Country’s 1st District.
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