Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo announces retirement

The Assyrian Armenian American Congresswoman marks the end of her 30-year career.

Yasmeen Altaji | Nov. 22, 2023

Assyrian Armenian American Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, a Democrat representing a california District in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced Tuesday she will not run for reelection next year. 

The announcement brings about the end of Eshoo’s three-decade career.

Her retirement leaves open her seat in California’s 16th Congressional District, which includes Silicon Valley and parts of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. Eshoo was elected in 1992 as the first woman and first Democrat to represent the district.

“I’m choosing this beautiful season of Thanksgiving to announce that I will not seek reelection,” Eshoo, 80, said in a video, “and I do so with a heart filled with unending gratitude to you, my magnificent constituents.” 

Eshoo was a member of the Assyrian National Caucus relaunched in June 2023. In 2023, the office of Josh Harder (D-Calif.), who is listed as the caucus chair, did not respond to requests for comment on its status.

In her announcement, she said she retires with 66 bills she introduced having been signed into law by five presidents over the course of her career.

“I’m very proud of the body of bipartisan work I’ve been able to achieve on your behalf in the congress,” she said in her announcement.