GOP Congressman Abandons Re-election Bid Due To Alcoholism

A Virginia congressman announced Monday that he will end his bid for re-election this year due to his struggle with alcoholism. 

Rep. Thomas Garrett (R-Va.) revealed that he was an alcoholic and needed to focus on his recovery and his family in an emotional video statement, which The Washington Post published.

Garrett is the 48th House Republican elected in 2016 who is not running for re-election this year, according to the House Press Gallery. (Many are retiring, although others are running for different offices, and a few left Congress to join the Trump administration.)

“This is because life is about priorities and values, and for the most part, I am proud of mine,” said Garrett, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

“The tragedy is any person ― Republican, Democrat or independent ― who has known me for any period of time knows two things: I am a good man and I am an alcoholic,” he said.