Retiring Democrat wants to make room for new generation: Some lawmakers 'just stay forever'

Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) is leaving Congress with the goal of opening doors for a younger generation in leadership.

“I’m trying to set a better example,” Kuster told The Boston Globe in a report published Thursday about her decision to not seek reelection. “I think there are colleagues — and some of whom are still very successful and very productive — but others who just stay forever.”

Kuster chalked up her decision to several reasons, including President-elect Trump's White House bid as well as her experiences during the Capitol insurrection.

“I’ve said somewhat facetiously, he tried to kill me once, I’m not available for that again,” Kuster shared of her experience on Jan. 6, 2021. 

“What we went through on Jan. 6 and his attempt to overthrow the government took a toll," she added about Trump. "That was really hard, and not just personally, but on my ability to work across the aisle.”

Her decision to leave Capitol Hill was reaffirmed after days of debates revolving around the continuing resolution to extend government funding until March, she said. Kuster cited input from Elon Musk and other billionaires as a “cold hearted” gesture she refused to accept as the norm.

"There’s a theme developing when billionaires make decisions about hard-working families’ lives, it comes out just mean," she told the Globe. "It’s cold hearted.”

Her decision to not seek reelection was made public in March as concerns mounted about President Biden's age and his own reelection bid. Kuster said at the time she wasn't sure that Biden could beat Trump.

“Just in my heart, [I] reached the conclusion that this would be a very challenging campaign for him, and to put himself out there for another four-year term was was going to be a struggle,” Kuster said about the president.

Despite Democrats' loss in the presidential election, Kuster will be replaced by Democrat Maggie Goodlander, 38, in Congress.

“She’ll be great. I think she’ll do fine,” Kuster said. “It’s all worked out, and I think the voters really wanted me to be replaced by a woman, and that’s sort of endearing.”

Kuster backed her campaign manager, Colin Van Ostern, for her seat in the primary, but he lost to Goodlander, who is married to Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan, by more than 30 percentage points.