Congressman Ralph Abraham tells Greg Hilburn of the USA Today Network he has not made a decision on whether he will seek to return to the House.
ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley, who has followed Abraham’s political career, says the Congressman has good reason to decline a potential fourth term, as his temperament doesn’t quite fit the bitter and escalating partisanship of D.C.
“I think he is someone who genuinely is not fascinated by Congress,” says Stockley. “I think his tenure has been an eye-opener for how D.C. politics works.”
Abraham hoped to be the state’s next governor, but he’s out of the run-off after taking third in the primary. Stockley warns not to rule out the Richland Parish Republican even if he leaves the lower chamber.
“Retirement from Congress and an unsuccessful bid for Governor does not necessarily mean the end of a political career,” says Stockley.
Abraham secured 24 percent of the vote in the gubernatorial primary.
Nationally the GOP has been hit by a wave of Congressional retirements. Many of those are in competitive districts, but if Abraham were to retire, Stockley says it wouldn’t put the seat in jeopardy.
“Clearly Republicans will not lose much sleep,” says Stockley. “They will expect to replace Representative Abraham with another Republican fairly easily.”
Abraham told Hilburn that he would make his decision by January at the latest.
