Competition is a cornerstone of American politics, sometimes referred to as blood sports. And like any competition, there are always winners and losers.
Fox News Digital covers the biggest political losers of 2023.
lori lightfoot
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s re-election campaign, which culminated in her loss to current Mayor Brandon Johnson, was marked by several self-inflicted wounds.
The former Democratic mayor took the brunt of criticism leveled at city officials over the city’s rising violent crime rate. Lightfoot also faced bipartisan backlash over her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including clashes with progressives and teachers unions.
‘A little carnival’ as retiring members of Congress lament the chaos in Congress
Former Congressman George Santos, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (Related news organizations)
Glenn Youngkin
In 2021, Youngkin began his path to political stardom with an upset victory over former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. The pro-parental rights Republican governor was touted almost immediately as a potential presidential candidate, potentially as early as 2024.
But he has staked his national reputation on a Republican victory in the Virginia General Assembly in November, and he also suggested that a 15-week abortion limit would be considered if the commonwealth goes red.
But Democrats ended up flipping the Virginia House of Delegates while retaining a majority in the state Senate.
Virginia Senate names caucus leaders for next legislative session
Susannah Gibson
But one Virginia Democrat who hasn’t fared well in recent election cycles is Nurse Gibson. Mr Gibson’s promising campaign to win a floating seat in the House of Representatives was derailed by revelations made just weeks before election day.
The Washington Post first reported that Ms. Gibson and her husband broadcast their sex acts on social media and accepted tips in exchange for lewd demands.
She ultimately lost her Richmond-area seat by less than 1,000 votes.
Virginia Congressional candidate Susannah Gibson speaks at the Women’s Summit in Virginia Beach, Virginia in September 2022. (Neil Smith, via AP)
Rashida Tlaib
Rep. Tlaib, D-Mich., is the only Palestinian-American member of Congress and is part of a small but growing faction of progressives who oppose the Democratic Party’s traditional pro-Israel stance and has long been critical of the Israeli government. I raised my voice.
But she has been isolated this year in the wake of Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel’s subsequent military response, and her reaction to the Gaza war has been ahead of others.
Her response to the crisis led to a formal House censure along bipartisan lines in November.
Israel resumes shelling of Gaza after ceasefire with Hamas ends
George Santos
Embattled former Rep. George Santos (New York, N.Y.) has made headlines for a variety of scandals, from federal charges including wire fraud to allegations that he was responsible for the cancer death of a veteran’s dog. monopolized.
Mr. Santos’ background was revealed soon after he arrived in Congress, and it was discovered that he had lied about his college degree, job, and ancestry.
However, criminal charges related to the misuse of campaign funds put the final nail in the coffin for Santos’ career as a member of Congress, and he was expelled by a two-thirds majority vote on December 1.
President Biden speaks at a National Institutes of Health event on December 14, 2023. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
joe biden
This year, the country’s commander-in-chief, who is in his 80s, continues to struggle with low public opinion polls and is grappling with an impeachment inquiry.
Biden is trying to convince voters that he is worthy of remaining in the White House for another four years, even as he travels the country touting important victories, mainly a bipartisan infrastructure bill. .
In addition to questions about whether he benefited from his age and role as vice president, Biden is also grappling with growing anger over his support for Israel in its war with Hamas.
Kevin McCarthy and Matt Gaetz trade jabs as fierce rivalry continues: He’s ‘in jail’
It culminates in early voter polls that have been showing pessimistic predictions about his re-election prospects over the past few weeks.
kevin mccarthy
Mr. McCarthy started 2023 with 15 marathon votes over three days, with the world watching to see if he would ultimately win the speaker’s gavel in a divided House Republican conference.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 25, 2023. (Getty Images)
On Dec. 14, Mr. McCarthy was giving his final speech to a House chamber packed with fewer than a dozen members, most of them his supporters.
He told reporters later in the day that it was a “bittersweet” end to a career in Congress that made history as the first Speaker of the House to be ousted in October. He announced in December that he would leave Congress permanently.
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In his final exit interview with reporters later that day, Mr. McCarthy chalked it up to a personal vendetta, but remained optimistic.
“I loved every moment, good or bad,” he said.
But McCarthy could rise again while on Fox News Digital’s 2023 political losers list.
He intends to remain a key figure in the Republican fundraising arena and is almost certain to be a high-profile figure in Washington, D.C., for some time. He also did not rule out the possibility of his return to power.
