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U.S. Rep. John Katko, a Republican who has represented Cayuga County and three other central New York counties in Congress for four terms, announced on Friday that he will not run for reelection this year.
Katko said in a statement that he will not run for a fifth term ” so that I can enjoy my family and life in a fuller and more present way.”
“For the past 32 years, I’ve devoted my life to protecting and serving our community and our country. First as a federal prosecutor, and now as a Member of Congress, it has been my mission to unite people in order to solve serious problems,” Katko said in a statement posted to his campaign Facebook page.
“Representing Central New York in Congress — solving real problems, and relentlessly championing bipartisanship — has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime. It is with profound gratitude for my colleagues, staff, supporters, team, and the people of New York’s 24th Congressional District that I am thrilled to begin this next and best chapter of my life alongside Robin and our family.”
Early on in his time in Congress, Katko quickly established himself as a member who was willing to work with both parties and buck his own on occasion. When House Republicans attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2015, Katko was one of three GOP members who voted against the bill.
He has served on the House Homeland Security Committee through his four terms in Congress and became the ranking Republican member on the panel in 2021. Many of the bills he has introduced or co-authored with his colleagues have addressed a range of homeland security subjects, from cybersecurity to transportation security. According to his office, the congressman either authored or co-introduced 35 bills that became law. Nearly all of the bills he sponsored had a Democratic cosponsor.
Katko was one of 10 House Republicans who joined Democrats to impeach former President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
After the vote, Katko said he examined Trump’s conduct after the 2020 election and the former president’s false claims that he was the actual winner. He also looked at Trump’s actions at a rally that was held shortly before the attack, which disrupted the certification of the presidential election results.
“All those things factored into it for me and it led me to the inescapable conclusion, based on the (impeachment charge), that I had to what I had to do,” he said.
Katko is the third House Republican that voted to impeach Trump to announce he would not seek re-election.
After Katko’s announcement, Trump released a statement.
“Great news, another one bites the dust. Katko, from Upstate New York, is gone!” he said.
