Anthony Gonzalez.Photo: GREG NASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Ohio Republican Anthony Gonzalez announced Thursday he won’t seek reelection in 2022, citing a “chaotic” political environment and a political party which he said had become “toxic.”
“While my desire to build a fuller family life is at the heart of my decision, it is also true that the current state of our politics, especially many of the toxic dynamics inside our own party, is a significant factor in my decision,” Gonzalez, 36, said in a statement.
He added that kind words from his supporters have given him “hope that the chaotic political environment that currently infects our country will only be temporary.”
Gonzalez, a retired professional football player who attended Ohio State University, would have faced off in the next election against Max Miller, a former Trump aide whom the former president has endorsed as he seeks revenge on the conservatives who broke with him.
Despite Trump’s statement, Gonzalez hadalready out-raised Millerprior to announcing he would be leaving Congress.
Speaking toTheNew York Times, Gonzalez suggested hecould have won the election— but still wouldn’t have been happy as a result.
“You can fight your butt off and win this thing, but are you really going to be happy? And the answer is, probably not,” he told the paper.
Gonzalez added that Trump was a “cancer for the country” telling theTimes: “I don’t believe he can ever be president again. Most of my political energy will be spent working on that exact goal.”
Donald Trump.Jill Colvin/AP/Shutterstock
In January, Gonzalez was the eighth GOP representative to publicly back impeachment after the insurrection,releasing a statementas he cast his vote.
source: people.com
