Wednesday Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy announced he would not seek re-election in 2018. Mr. Gowdy, who heads the powerful House Oversight Committee, is the latest in a wave of GOP House members who are leaving office this year.
“Whatever skills I may have are better utilized in a courtroom than in Congress, and I enjoy our justice system more than our political system,” the South Carolina Republican said. “As I look back on my career, it is the jobs that both seek and reward fairness that are most rewarding.”
https://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2018/2/1/16958988/congress-members-retiring-why
https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/31/politics/trey-gowdy-retiring/index.html
For Democrats to control the House, they need to flip 24 seats. Interestingly enough, Hillary Clinton won 23 districts in 2016 that are currently held by Republicans. Incumbents traditionally have an advantage, but may be negated by the 34 House Republicans who are retiring.
Historically, off-year elections become a referendum on the President, and his party loses seats in Congress. Mr. Trump’s historically low approval ratings, combined with a motivated/angry Democratic base, spells trouble for House Republicans .