Rob Portman, Republican senator for the state of Ohio,
on Monday announced that he will not run for re-election after his second term
in office ends in 2022, CNN reports.
Calling political partisan a decisive factor behind
the move, the senator said in a statement, “I feel fortunate to have been
entrusted by the people of Ohio to represent them in the US Senate. Today, I am
announcing that I have made a decision not to run again in 2022.”
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“I don’t think any Senate office has been more
successful in getting things done, but honestly, it has gotten harder and
harder to break through the partisan gridlock and make progress on substantive
policy, and that has contributed to my decision.” Portman added in the
statement.
The 65 year old senator spent around three decades in public
service after being elected to the house in 1993 post which he departed from the
Congress to serve in President George Bush’s administration—first as US trade
representative followed by the office of Management and Budget.
While announcing his decision, the Ohio senator also
indicated to cooperate with Joe Biden’s administrations in its attempt to win bipartisan
aid for the President’s economic rescue package to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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Earlier in 2020, Republican senator of Pennsylvania, Pat
Toomey, opted out from re-election race of 2022.
Both these retirement are expected to set off
fierce competition within the Republican party for senate and governors and
would also play a monumental role in erecting the drowning party again after massive
defeats in Presidential and Georgia election.