Michele Bachmann Not Running For Reelection

Representative Michele Bachmann announced in a video on Tuesday that she would not be seeking reelection to the House of Representatives next November. Due to the spate of inquiries heading her way, Bachman’s announcement is sparking speculation that her decision to not seek reelection was based off of concerns about the impending investigation.

Bachmann, however, is maintaining that her decision was not impacted by concerns about the inquiry or fear that she wouldn’t be reelected. In the video, she claimed to be confident that if she were to run in 2014, she would again defeat the candidate she narrowly beat this past November, hotel magnate Jim Graves. Graves recently announced that he plans to run again in the next election.

In the video, Bachmann also said that this decision was also not impacted by accusations made to the Federal Elections Committee by former aides.

Pete Waldron, a former staffer of Bachmann’s presidential campaign, was one of many who accused Bachmann of not paying him after she fared poorly in the January 2012 Iowa caucuses, according to an article on the Minnesota Public Radio website. He claimed that MichelePAC, a political action committee controlled by Bachmann but separate from the campaign, was making payments to C&M Strategies, a Colorado company, while staffers were being asked to forgo pay. This discovery led Waldron to report to the FEC. This article also stated that Bachmann’s team was accused of stealing email lists for campaign use. Bachmann insists in the video that there is no reason to believe any rules or regulations were violated.

Bachmann nearly didn’t run for reelection in November 2012 after her failed presidential bid, but felt that the nine months left before the election was not enough time for a new Republican candidate to get organized for “what might’ve been a very challenging campaign.” She didn’t want to risk the Republican seat, and decided to run. A vocal opponent of the Obama administration, she listed her accomplishments as a conservative politician during his administration.

Though she will not run for the House in the next election, Bachmann said that she has not ruled out returning to politics at a future date. “There is no future option or opportunity, be it directly in the political arena or otherwise, that I won't be giving serious consideration if it can help save and protect our great nation for future generations.”

Bachmann has served as the representative of Minnesota’s 6^th congressional district since 2007.

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