LaTourette was part of the momentous “Republican Revolution” of 1994…when the GOP seized majority control of the U.S. House for the first time in decades. His voting record perplexed more partisan politicians, but LaTourette says he’s tried to listen to his constituents back in Northeast Ohio. He says given the timing of his announcement, he doesn’t feel he’s entitled to name or endorse a successor, but…
LATOURETTE: “I would just hope… they recognize this is not a bright red or bright blue district, this is a swing district. And the title of the job is “representative” It’s not “Republican Representative”. It’s not “Democratic Representative”. It’s “representative”. And I hope they pick somebody that feels like that’s what they want to do.”
The GOP must now scramble to find a successor for LaTourette. He won’t say yet what he’ll do next, only that he felt his Congressional career wasn’t worth the time and trouble anymore.
Politicians from both major parties are praising LaTourette’s bipartisan spirit, and many have wished him well.