Pennsylvania Republicans, and for that matter Republicans in general, are disappointed after learning that one of their own is stepping down from his position in the House.
Representative Tom Marino (R-Penn) announced on Thursday that he will be leaving Congress in order to return to the private sector.
Marino Resigns
At the midterm elections this past November, Marino was elected to the House for the fifth time. He started off in 2010 representing Pennsylvania’s 10th District, which after the recent redistricting is now the 12th District.
Marino especially gained notoriety in the most recent presidential election, helping to lead Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania campaign. And, returning the favor, President Trump, in 2017, nominated Marino to be his drug czar. Marino withdrew, however, after it was discovered that he supported legislation that weakened the government’s ability to go after drug companies.
Despite his recent election, Marino has decided to call it quits. “Having spent over two decades serving the public, I have chosen to take a position in the private sector where I can use both my legal and business experience to create jobs around the nation,” he said.
In his statement, Marino went on to thank his supporters. “I want to thank the people of the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania for the faith they have placed in me to represent them in Congress,” he said. “It truly has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Marino’s last day in office will be January 23.
Why now, Tom?
Of course, this is a bit of a difficult moment for those who supported Marino, with barely two months having passed since the November election. Understandably, they must feel betrayed.
Considering that Pennsylvania is a swing state, the implications of Marino’s resignation could be important.
Marino did represent a solidly red district. But, with the redistricting, whether the now 12th District is still Republican is unclear. It must be remembered that we have seen a lot of upsets in Pennsylvania in the past year.
What will happen now is that Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, will call a special election within ten days of Marino’s retirement on January 23. The election will then have to be held within sixty days.
Could you imagine if a Democrat was to get in? The Republican disadvantage in the House may have just gotten a bit worse.
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