HOUSE OF REPS/POLITICAL FIGURES: “Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Monday [1-29-18] said he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2018, making him the latest in a parade of senior House Republicans and committee leaders heading to the exits.
The New Jersey congressman, who comes from a storied political family and whose father served in the House from 1953 to 1975, faced the toughest re-election race of his 23-year career in his suburban district west of New York City…
Mr. Frelinghuysen’s district, once solidly Republican, has been trending away from the party: It only narrowly voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election and voted for Democrat Phil Murphy in the gubernatorial election in 2017.
Mr. Frelinghuysen, 71 years old, faced a wide field of challengers who have said the incumbent had grown remote and out of step from his constituents. He won with 58% of the vote in 2016.
His leading Democratic opponent this year is Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and former federal prosecutor. Martin Hewitt, an attorney, has been running in the GOP primary against Mr. Frelinghuysen, but other Republicans are now expected to jump into the race.”
-Janet Hook, “GOP Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen Won’t Run in 2018,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 29, 2018 01:01pm