Rep. Annie Kuster (D.N.H.) is leaving Congress with the goal of opening the door to leadership for younger generations.
“I'm trying to set a better example,” Kuster told the Boston Globe. report She announced her decision not to seek re-election on Thursday. “I think some of my colleagues are still very successful and productive, but some of them are here forever.”
Kuster cited several reasons for his decision, including President-elect Trump's candidacy for the White House and his experience during the Capitol riot.
“I said it somewhat playfully. He tried to kill me once. He can't do that again,” Kuster said of his experience on January 6, 2021.
“What we went through on January 6th and his attempt to overthrow the government was very damaging,” she said of President Trump, adding, “It was really hard. It was a personal It's been tough not only for me, but for my ability to work across the aisle.”
She said her decision to leave the Capitol was reaffirmed after days of debate over a continuing resolution that would extend government funding through March. Kuster cited comments from Elon Musk and other billionaires as a “callous” act he refused to accept as the norm.
“There's a theme that develops when billionaires make decisions about the lives of their hard-working families, and it just ends up being mean,” she told the Globe. “That's cruel.”
Her decision not to seek reelection was made public in March amid growing concerns about President Biden's age and her own reelection. Kuster said at the time he wasn't sure whether Biden could beat Trump.
“But in my heart, [I] “We've come to the conclusion that this is going to be a very difficult campaign for him, and it's going to be difficult for him to fight for another four-year term,” Kuster said of the president.
Although the Democratic Party lost in the presidential election, Kuster will be replaced in Congress by Democrat Maggie Goodlander, 38.
“She's going to be great. I think she's going to do well,” Kuster said. “Everything went well. I think voters really wanted a woman to replace me. It's kind of endearing.”
Kuster supported campaign manager Colin Van Ostern in the primary, but he trailed Goodlander, who is married to Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan, by more than 30 points. Defeated.
