Veteran California Democrat Anna Eshoo plans to leave Congress, marking retirement record

Longtime California Democrat Rep. Anna Eshoo will retire from her Silicon Valley seat after this term in Congress, adding to a wave of congressional retirements and opening a spot to represent the safe blue district for the first time in 30 years.

“I’m very proud of the body of bipartisan work I’ve been able to achieve on your behalf in the Congress,” she said in an announcement video. “As my last year in Congress approaches, I will continue my work with vigor and unswerving commitment to you.”

Eshoo said in her announcement that 66 of her bills have been signed into law by five presidents.

The decision by Eshoo continues a flood of retirements, with November marking the most announcements in any single month since at least 2011. There have been at least 11 to date — not counting several other members like Reps. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) pursuing bids for other elected offices — and still more than a week to go in November.

She’s a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the top Democrat on its health subcommittee. Eshoo narrowly lost the top Democratic slot on the committee in a hotly-contested battle with Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) back in 2014.

Eshoo is the second longtime ally of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to depart Congress after Rep. Jackie Speier’s (D-Calif.) retirement at the start of this Congress.