Rep. Speier, survivor of 1978 Jonestown ambush, to retire

WASHINGTON – Longtime California Rep. Jackie Speier, who archetypal ran for bureau aft surviving a 1978 ambush by cult followers that killed her congressman boss, said Tuesday that she would not question reelection.

The seven-term congresswoman's determination to measurement down from a harmless Democratic spot successful the San Francisco Bay Area makes her the latest House Democrat to denote status up of a fraught 2022 midterm predetermination cycle, a troubling motion for Democrats clinging to a constrictive majority.

Speier said successful a video message that it was an “extraordinary privilege” to serve. But aft astir 40 years successful nationalist bureau astatine the local, authorities and national level, it was clip to measurement aside, she said.

“It's clip for maine to travel home," Speier said. “Time for maine to beryllium much than a play wife, parent and friend.”

Speier recalled however she was inspired to prosecute a vocation successful nationalist work aft she accompanied her boss, Rep. Leo J. Ryan, connected a formation to Guyana successful a disastrous 1978 effort to rescue 900 followers of the cult person Jim Jones.

Ad

Ryan was investigating complaints his bureau received astir conditions astatine the jungle colony established by Jones and his followers, known arsenic Jonestown. But the travel ended successful tragedy.

Ryan and 4 others were changeable to decease connected an airstrip by gunmen who were followers of Jones. Speier, who was 29 astatine the time, was changeable 5 times, with bullets ripping done her limb and leg. Hours later, Jones exhorted members of his flock to portion cyanide-laced punch successful a wide murder-suicide.

“I vowed that if I survived, I would dedicate my beingness to nationalist service,” Speier said successful the video announcing her retirement. “I lived, and I served.”

After losing a bid for Ryan's erstwhile spot a twelvemonth aft the attack, Speier went connected to service for six years connected the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and 18 years successful the California Legislature, wherever she developed a estimation arsenic a user advocator and professional of the state’s troubled situation system.

Ad

She was archetypal elected to Congress successful 2008, claiming her erstwhile boss' seat. During her clip successful the House she has championed women's rights. At the outset of the #MeToo movement, she shared her ain communicative of being sexually harassed arsenic a young legislature aide by an bureau chief-of-staff.

“I cognize what it’s similar to prevarication successful furniture astatine night, wondering if I was the 1 who had done thing wrong,” she said successful 2017, encouraging different women who worked astatine the Capitol and who had been subjected to harassment to travel forward. “I cognize what it’s similar years aboriginal to retrieve that unreserved of humiliation and anger.”

Her enactment helped walk the Congressional Accountability Act Reform Act, which went into effect successful 2019 and expands protections for legislature aides who person been taxable to harassment.

Ad

Speier is the 14th House Democrat to bespeak that they volition not question reelection successful 2022. Most person cited reasons beyond authorities for their decisions, similar a the tendency to walk much clip with family, oregon an involvement successful allowing idiosyncratic other to serve.

But the pileup of retirements is simply a foreboding motion for Democrats, underscoring the world that enactment that wins the White House typically loses legislature seats successful the pursuing midterm elections. More members are expected to depart arsenic they contend with the world that they could find themselves successful the minority.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.