Wyoming Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis announced on Friday that she will not seek re-election in 2026, becoming the fifth GOP senator to announce her retirement this year.

“Deciding not to run for re-election does [not] represent a change of heart for me, but in the difficult, exhausting session weeks this fall I’ve come to accept that I do not have six more years in me,” said Lummis, who has served in the Senate since 2021.

“I am a devout legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The energy required doesn’t match up,” the 71-year-old senator added.

Lummis joins a growing list of Republican senators who have announced this year that they will not seek to remain in the chamber, including longtime GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell (KY), Joni Ernst (IA), Tommy Tuberville (AL), and Thom Tillis (NC).

The Wyoming senator was a strong ally of President Donald Trump, who endorsed her in the 2020 election before Lummis went on to win the primary and general elections in landslide victories.

“I am honored to have earned the support of President Trump and to have the opportunity to work side by side with him to fight for the people of Wyoming,” Lummis added in her statement. “I look forward to continuing this partnership and throwing all my energy into bringing important legislation to his desk in 2026 and into retaining commonsense Republican control of the U.S. Senate.”

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Lummis’ departure will likely not affect the balance of power in the Senate as Wyoming remains a reliably red state, but with her retirement, the GOP must now rally behind a new candidate in 2026. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman, who defeated Trump critic Liz Cheney in 2022, is considered a potential candidate to replace Lummis.

Before being elected to the Senate in the 2020 election, Lummis served in the U.S. House for eight years. She got her start in politics in the Wyoming House of Representatives at just 24 years old. Lummis became known as the “Crypto Queen” in the Senate for her work to develop U.S. regulations on cryptocurrency and establish a national Bitcoin reserve.

“We sincerely thank Senator Cynthia Lummis for her dedicated service to the people of Wyoming and congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement,” The Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund said. “Senator Lummis’ strong conservative record is unquestioned, and her list of accomplishments includes ensuring that the United States is the world leader in digital currencies and energy production. While she will be missed, we look forward to seeing many more great things ahead for Senator Cynthia Lummis.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik, who was seen as a formidable challenger to incumbent New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, abruptly suspended her gubernatorial campaign Friday and is taking a step back from politics.

“While spending precious time with my family this Christmas season, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Governor and will not seek re-election to Congress,” Stefanik wrote on X.

Stefanik’s choice stems from the unexpected entry of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman into the Republican primary for governor, a move Stefanik says would inevitably lead to a costly and ultimately unnecessary primary battle.

Blakeman jumped into the primary despite a phone call from President Trump warning him against challenging Stefanik, whom the president endorsed emphatically earlier this year.

“[W]hile we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York,” Stefanik said.

With her congressional term ending in 2027, Stefanik hopes to focus her attention on motherhood and other personal goals.

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“And while many know me as Congresswoman, my most important title is Mom. I believe that being a parent is life’s greatest gift and greatest responsibility,” Stefanik said. “I have thought deeply about this and I know that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I don’t further focus on my young son’s safety, growth, and happiness – particularly at his tender age.”

The Harvard grad was once considered a rising star in the Republican Party and even a potential running mate for President Trump in 2024, but Stefanik has had a challenging year.

Stefanik gave up her leadership position and her spot on the House Intel committee earlier this year to accept the position of U.N. ambassador — only for the offer to be rescinded after Trump feared losing her House seat in the ensuing special election, eating into the Republicans’ razor-thin House majority.

“I am incredibly grateful to the people of New York’s 21st District for entrusting me to represent you in the United States Congress. Thank you to my dedicated staff over the past decade. I am proud of the significant results that we successfully delivered for the hardworking families in our district and across America,” Stefanik concluded. “It has been a tremendous professional honor to serve as your Congresswoman over the past eleven years.”