Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) announced on Friday that he is retiring from Congress and endorsing Supervisor Jim Desmond for California’s new 48th district.

“This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didn’t make it lightly,” Issa said. “First, we built the right campaign infrastructure, support has been overwhelming — including from President Trump — and our polling was unmistakable: We would win this race.”

“But after a quarter-century in Congress — and before that, a quarter-century in business — it’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges,” he added. “Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life, and every day my teams in Washington and California have worked to deliver for our constituents — like most recently gaining the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Secret Soldier of the Korean War, the great Royce Williams.”

“There is still work to be done throughout 2026 both in Washington and my beloved current 48th District,” he continued. “As many days that remain, I’ll dedicate each one of them to the people I serve and the indispensable nation I have sworn to protect as a soldier in the Army and as a proud and grateful Member of the People’s House of Representatives.”

Issa, a car alarm magnate considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress, had been a chief antagonist for President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while he served as chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2011 to early 2015.

The congressman’s retirement injects more uncertainty into the race for Southern California’s 48th District, which was drastically reshaped in November after voters approved a new U.S. House map that favors Democrats.

With an incumbent out of the running, Republicans may find it harder to hold the seat and preserve their fragile majority in the House.

After redistricting, several Democrats have moved to target Issa’s seat. Among them are Ammar Campa-Najjar — Issa’s opponent in 2020 — and San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert.

Campa-Najjar stated he personally witnessed Jim Desmond, a Republican ally of Issa who had been running to unseat Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), re-register to run for Issa’s seat instead. He also reported that another Republican, State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, is expected to file for the seat.

Desmond and DeMaio did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Issa’s decision follows the 119th Congress breaking the record for the most retirements in the 21st century, with 55 House members — 34 Republicans and 21 Democrats — leaving office either to run for another office or retire from political life altogether.