Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, announced Friday that he will not seek reelection and plans to retire at the end of his current term. Graves, 62, said in a post on X that his decision to conclude his 26-year congressional career came “after considerable reflection.”
“This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one. I believe in making room for the next generation. It’s time to pass the torch and allow a new guard of conservative leaders to step forward and chart a path forward for Missourians,” he wrote, per The Hill.
Rep. Sam Graves has represented Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which covers much of the state’s rural northern region, since 2001. He filed for reelection to a 13th term on Feb. 26, according to records from the Missouri Secretary of State.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Graves planned to withdraw his candidacy. In comments to the outlet, he said one of his priorities before leaving office is securing funding to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system, citing the 2024 Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization as a key achievement.
A professional pilot, Graves has also advocated for the ALERT Act following a fatal midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people last year. The proposed legislation would direct the Federal Aviation Administration to implement safety measures based on findings from the National Transportation Safety Board, The Hill noted.
Graves’s retirement adds to a growing number of House members opting not to seek reelection this cycle. According to Associated Press, 57 lawmakers—36 Republicans and 21 Democrats—have announced plans to leave the chamber, not including those who have died or resigned during the current term.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Missouri’s 6th District as solidly Republican, a factor that could help the GOP maintain its narrow House majority in the upcoming midterm elections. Jim Ingram, a Kansas City, Missouri, business owner, is the only other candidate who has formally filed for the Republican nomination to succeed Sam Graves, according to state records.
The Missouri Independent reported that state Rep. Mazzie Christensen and radio host Chris Stigall are also considering entering the race.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are sharply divided over a Senate-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding deal, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confronting a volatile internal backlash as he weighs how—and whether—to bring the measure to a vote.
The Senate approved the proposal early Friday morning in a voice vote, funding most DHS operations while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The move shifts the focus squarely to the House, where Johnson must navigate competing demands from conservatives and more pragmatic Republicans concerned about the prolonged shutdown.
Johnson declined to commit to a path forward, telling reporters simply, “Stay tuned,” when asked whether he would keep lawmakers in Washington through the weekend to pass the bill. Behind that brief response lies a complex political calculation, as GOP leadership gauges whether the conference can unite behind the Senate framework—or whether the legislation will fracture along ideological lines.
“This is not a done deal,” Rep. Austin Scott said, blasting the Senate’s handling of the vote. “A bunch of cowards — they didn’t even take a recorded vote.”
The criticism reflects broader frustration among conservative lawmakers, particularly within the House Freedom Caucus, who argue the Senate bill falls short of Republican priorities on immigration enforcement. Rep. Andy Harris, chairman of the conservative bloc, said his group would oppose the measure unless it is revised.
Harris and other hard-liners are pushing for the House to amend the bill to restore full funding for ICE and CBP, while also attaching election integrity provisions such as the SAVE America Act. Their strategy would effectively send the legislation back to the Senate—delaying any immediate resolution and extending the shutdown.
Johnson acknowledged the tension, saying he would work to reflect the “will of the conference,” but each procedural option available carries political risk.