And then there were 19.

Nineteen House Democrats have now announced plans to retire rather than seek re-election in the 2022 midterms. As I said in the headline, like rats fleeing a sinking ship — the HMS Pelosi, that is.

Oregon Democrat Peter A. DeFazio, 74, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on Wednesday became the latest to announce his retirement, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, saying it was time for him to “pass the baton to the next generation.”

“It’s time for me to pass the baton to the next generation so I can focus on my health and well-being. This was a tough decision at a challenging time for our republic with the very pillars of our democracy under threat, but I am bolstered by the passion and principles of my colleagues in Congress and the ingenuity and determination of young Americans who are civically engaged and working for change.”

DeFazio represents a strongly-Democrat district which is likely to remain that way, but I’m sure, like virtually every honest Democrat in the House — wait, that’s oxymoronic — the coming beatdown is at play in his head, as well.

Something like: “I’ve been in the House for 35 years and I wanna go out on my terms, not get my butt handed to me in 2022, along with the rest of our caucus. Sorry, I’m not gonna be part of that bloodbath.”

As The Journal also reported, DeFazio is the third committee chair who will not seek reelection next year, following Reps. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), chairman of the House Budget Committee, and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), chairwoman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

No doubt others will follow.

In response to DeFazio’s announcement, Broom-Hilda — er, Pelosi — issued a statement, as well.

Broom Hilda for December 01, 2021 | https://t.co/DjJZnqdLOG https://t.co/S3mnBRuXIu via @GoComics

— Hold My Beer (@RealLibSmacker) December 1, 2021

“Chairman DeFazio is known and respected by all as a champion of sustainable, smart and green infrastructure, whose progressive values, passion and persistence have helped rebuild America and the middle class.

His legislative successes — including expanding preservation and conservation efforts, protecting affordable health care, advancing tribal sovereignty, rebuilding our highways, ensuring aviation safety and, most recently, helping pass the historic, once-in-a-century Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Build Back Better Act — leave an outstanding legacy of progress for America’s children and future.”

Blah, blah, blah, as your ship begins to slip beneath the surly waves, Madam Speaker, soon to rest in the briny deep for eternity. I’m sorry (not); she’s just a miserable partisan hack — nothing more, nothing less.

Incidentally, as reported by Fox News on Tuesday, Pelosi’s pledge that this is her last term looms, closer and closer, as her comrades continue to drop like flies. Although she has yet to officially announce her decision for 2022 and beyond, last year she implicitly reaffirmed a 2018 promise that her current term would be the last one she would serve as Speaker of the House.

That ship sailed when Biden began his occupation of the Oval Office, Nancy.

As noted by The Journal, the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement in response to DeFazio’s retirement announcement:

Committee Chairs don’t retire unless they know their majority is gone. Nancy Pelosi’s days as Speaker are numbered.

In other fun Pelosi news:

New Moves by Pelosi, NJ Gov. Murphy Further Prove That Ron DeSantis Just Keeps on Winning

Pelosi Calls $550 Billion Climate Change Spending a ‘Religious Thing’

Newest Polling Numbers for 2022 Elections Suggest Speaker Pelosi Is Toast