Rep. Ryan Costello Will Not Seek Re-Election

Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) announced he will not seek re-election in 2018 due to the “political environment,” The Delaware County Daily Times reported. Costello told the newspaper the “deeply personal decision” was rooted in today’s political climate, saying that “it’s very difficult to move forward in a constructive way” with a “very angry environment,” and “hate” from the left. Costello’s 6th District was recently redrawn after the state’s supreme court found the congressional map to be in violation of the Pennsylvania’s constitution. With the new boundaries, the district is more Democratic than it was before. The congressman took it personally, saying “[t]heir objective was to take me out politically, and that’s what they did.” Costello said he plans to “re-enter the private sector.” This comes as many House Republicans are leaving Congress in the lead-up to the 2018 midterms.