HOOD RIVER, OR – Today, Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced that he will not
seek a new term in Congress in the 2020 elections.
In a video statement released Monday by his office, Walden said:
“At the end of this term, I will have devoted 30 years to the important calling of public
service; of helping bring people together to solve problems and leave our
communities, our beautiful state and our great nation better off for the next
generation.
“Together we’ve worked to find solutions to the opioid crisis, improve forest health,
and increase access to high speed broadband.
“My team and I have helped thousands of Oregonians get the Social Security,
Medicare, and veterans’ benefits they earned and deserved.
“I fought to save the fire-fighting tanker base in Medford, the VA facility in White
City, and I’ve stood up for the ranching and farming way of life that is eastern
Oregon.
“Rural Oregon values run deeply in my veins. My ancestors arrived here in 1845 and
I grew up on a cherry orchard in The Dalles with parents who survived the Great
Depression. They taught me the true meaning of community; the importance of
giving back; and the value of hard work. That’s why I’ve given it my all for the
people and the way of life we so enjoy in Oregon.
“Based on recent polling, strong fundraising, and the backing of my wife and family, I
am confident I could earn the support of 2nd District voters for another term. I’m
also optimistic that a path exists for Republicans to recapture a majority in the
House, and that I could return for two more years as chairman of the House Energy
and Commerce Committee.
“But I also know that for me, the time has come to pursue new challenges and
opportunities.
“So, I will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives, nor election to
any other office, but instead I will close the public service chapter of my life, thankful
for the friends I’ve made and the successful work we’ve done together.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to represent the people of Oregon’s 2nd District in
the U.S. House. Know that I will continue to work hard on their behalf as long as I’m
in office. Thank you.”
Walden is the former chairman, and now top Republican, of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee. Under Walden’s leadership, 93 percent of the bills approved
by the committee received bipartisan support on the House floor, with the bulk of the
work becoming law. He led efforts to tackle the opioid crisis, increase access to high
speed broadband service, modernize the energy sector and move forward on medical
research and innovation.
Walden and his wife, Mylene, owned and operated radio stations in Hood River and
The Dalles for more than two decades. They are the parents of two sons, Anthony,

 29, and Garrison, who died of a congenital heart defect in 1994. He served six years
in the Oregon House, (1989-95), including as House Majority Leader during the 1991
and 1993 sessions, before serving two years in the Oregon Senate, (1995-97).
As Deputy Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, (NRCC)
Walden helped Republicans regain control of the U.S. House in 2010 and keep it in
2012. His colleagues twice elected him Chairman of the NRCC (for the 2014 and
2016 cycles) which produced the biggest back-to-back GOP majorities in U.S. history.
Walden was elected to Congress in 1998 with 61 percent of the vote. He held every
challenger to less than 40 percent of the vote in every election including in 2018.
“I am deeply thankful to my supporters who made such a difference at the grassroots
level to help achieve huge victories in each election. Likewise, I could not have run
or served effectively without the support of my wife and family who backed me every
step of the way. To them, I owe the most special thank you,” said Walden.