WASHINGTON -- Rep. WASHINGTON -- Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) announced Monday that he would not seek re-election. Instead, he plans to retire from Congress in the fall to become the CEO at the American Jewish Committee.
Deutch stated in a statement that "After serving the public more than 15 years, i have decided not to seek re-election this year."
He said, "Public service was instilled by my father, who earned a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge. It has been an incredible privilege to serve the people of Palm Beach County in Congress since 2010. "I am extremely grateful to my constituents.
With his retirement, the total number of Democratic members of Congress who have decided not to run for re-election is now 31.
Republicans have cited the large number of Democratic retirementes as evidence that they fear losing control of the House following this fall's midterm election.
Deutch 55 noted that his community was changed when 17 teachers and students at Marjory Stoneman Doug high School were murdered in a shooting massacre. Eli, his nephew, was also mentioned. He stated that he will raise awareness about the danger of fentanyl in the next months to young people.
This seven-term Democrat was elected to Congress in 2010. He currently chairs the House Ethics Committee.
Monday's announcement by the American Jewish Committee stated that Deutch will be its next CEO, effective Oct. 1. According to the organization, he was unanimously chosen by its 28-member executive board.
Deutch stated that he had worked closely with AJC during his tenure in Congress, and that he was honored to be chosen as the organization's next chief executive officer. "AJC has been working for the protection of global Jewry, strengthening Israel's position in the community, and advancing democratic values all over the world for 116 years."
