WASHINGTON D.C., DC — U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced in a statement Thursday he will not be seeking reelection in 2024.
He was elected to Congress in 2012 after serving in the Washington State Legislature as a Democrat. His district represents the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas and most of Tacoma. He currently resides in Gig Harbor and is from Port Angeles.
In his letter, he emphasized his desire to make more time for his family, attributing the strain of work commitment on his personal life.
"As nourishing as this job has been, it has come with profound costs to my family. Every theatrical performance and musical recital I missed. Every family dinner that I wasn’t there for," Rep. Kilmer continued, "the distance I felt from my family for months after the events of January 6th... I am conscious that I didn’t always deliver in the way I wanted, and I hope they will forgive me for that."
The statement chronologically summarizes the series of weekly letters he wrote to his kids about his work in Congress every he boarded the plane to Washington D.C. Topics included his congressional appropriations work, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, all the way up to his plans to not seeking reelection.
In the statement, he also pointed to his chairman's work on the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, also known as the Fix Congress Committee, and the over 200 reforms passed to reform the government body. A quarter of those reforms have been implemented, according to Rep. Kilmer.
"I can’t think of a better way to close out my term than working with the new Fix Congress Caucus to continue the work of making Congress more functional. And when I’m outside the institution, I’ll continue doing all I can to make things better," he wrote.
In a statement in response from U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), she noted his tenure in public service on the state and federal levels.
"I am appreciative of our long-standing working relationship that started when I was Mayor of Tacoma...While I’m disappointed that my friend will not seek reelection in 2024, I look forward to working alongside him for the next year," she said in the statement.
He did not outline a specific plan for after his term ends, instead highlighting again his personal commitments.
"For one, there’s a lot to do, and I intend to keep the pedal to the metal until my final minute on the job. I’m a pretty young guy with more chapters in me. My plan is to ensure those chapters enable me to continue to make a positive difference. And I’d sure like to make a bit more time for those I love."
His last day as the representative for Washington's 6th Congressional District will be in January 2025. Read Rep. Kilmer's full statement on his website.