DEMS/POLITICAL FIGURES: “Rep. Bob Brady, a longtime powerhouse in Philadelphia Democratic politics, won’t seek reelection to the House, according to a person close to the congressman.
Brady has represented south Philadelphia in Congress since 1998, but he has long had a ruling hand in the city’s politics, serving as chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party for more than 30 years.
The old-school politician and party boss — known in Congress as a fixer and backroom dealmaker — has been dogged by questions about retirement in recent months amid a federal probe into allegations his campaign paid a primary challenger to drop out in 2012. But Brady cited a desire to spend more time with his family — not the investigation — as his reason for stepping down…
A recent court ruling, which tossed out the state’s congressional map, also influenced Brady’s decision to not run for reelection. Brady told The Philadelphia Inquirer in an interview that he plans to remain as local party chairman, but he didn’t want that position to effect the map-drawing, potentially affecting two other Democratic congressmen based in Philadelphia: Reps. Dwight Evans and Brendan Boyle…
Brady’s departure will leave a vacancy atop the House Administration Committee, where he currently serves as ranking member and was in line to become chairman next year if Democrats took back the House in November.
The current committee chairman, Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), is also retiring after this year. Harper and Brady have recently worked closely on a bill to overhaul Capitol Hill’s sexual harassment policies amid a string of lawmakers’ retirements and resignations.
Brady’s retirement will also further deplete the seniority of the Pennsylvania delegation, which will see a string of departures ahead of next year.”
-Heather Caygle and Elena Schneider, “Bob Brady not running for reelection,” Politico, Jan. 31, 2018 02:05pm