Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) on Tuesday announced he will not seek re-election in the 2026 midterms.
“After much prayerful consideration and discussion with my beloved wife Sandy, I have decided not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives,” Webster said.
“To have been part of the development and passage of some most significant legislation in our time is something I will forever treasure,” he added.
After much prayerful consideration and discussion with my beloved wife Sandy, I have decided not to seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives.
To have been part of the development and passage of some most significant legislation in our time is something I… pic.twitter.com/8xofTAuWO6
— Daniel Webster (@RepWebster) April 28, 2026
The Hill has more:
So far, 36 House Republicans — including Webster, the most recent — have announced they will leave their seats at the end of their term, with many pointing to legislative gridlock, family commitments or a wish to make room for the next generation of leaders. A number of them are running for Senate or governor.
That figure exceeds the record set in the 2018 midterm cycle, when 34 House Republicans said they would not seek reelection and Democrats regained control of the House in President Trump’s first term.
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Webster, a former Speaker of the Florida House, has served in Congress since 2011.
He unsuccessfully ran for Speaker of the House of Representatives three times.
77-year-old Rep. Daniel Webster, R-FL, says "the time has come to pass the torch."
Webster is a former speaker of the Florida state House and ran unsuccessfully for speaker of the House here in DC in the wake of Boehner's resignation.
He was first elected in the Tea Party wave… https://t.co/bjOaodgo3A
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) April 28, 2026
POLITICO noted:
Webster represented a red-leaning House district outside of Orlando after serving in the state Legislature, including as the first Republican state House speaker since reconstruction in Florida.
His forthcoming exit from Congress is unlikely to create a pickup opportunity for Democrats in November.
His retirement comes a day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled newly drawn congressional maps designed to give Republicans an even larger advantage in the state, although Webster’s district was not changed dramatically.
Webster had been critical of the redistricting efforts, warning that it was a “slippery slope.”
“I’ve been around enough reapportionments to know it can come back and bite you,” Webster said last month.
Still, Webster said Tuesday that he plans to “finish strong.”
“There is much work left to do before this Congress closes and I am fully focused on finishing strong,” Webster said. “I will keep working to get bills over the finish line that will leverage private investment to finance public infrastructure projects; ensure America — not China or any other adversary — remains the leader in space exploration; and that the United States will set the standards that protect our technological advantages.”
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