A chaotic year for the House is coming to a close with more Democrats than Republicans deciding to leave the chamber. It's a disparity that could have major ramifications in next year’s elections. A few more retirements can be expected after the holidays when lawmakers have had a chance to spend time with families and as filing deadlines approach. Many of the Democrats not seeking another term in the House are running for higher office, but their exodus could give Republicans better chances to win competitive seats. Meanwhile, Republicans are generally leaving seats that Republicans will be highly favored to retake.
