Rep. Earl Blumenauer on retirement, accomplishments and the presidential election

Rep. Earl Blumenauer returned to Eye on Northwest Politics to discuss his legacy, the presidential election and more.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Congressman Earl Blumenauer is a lifelong resident of Portland. He's served for decades as the representative for Oregon's deep-blue 3rd district. In October 2023, he announced he planned to retire at the end of his term.

Rep. Blumenauer returned to Eye on Northwest Politics to discuss his legacy, the presidential election and more.

On why he is choosing to leave Congress now, after more than 50 years in politics, Blumenauer said it's simply time for him to move on, since the legislature has become 'dysfunctional.'

"I just find myself being involved with pointless activities on legislation that's not going to go anyplace. And there things I want to do here in our community," he noted. "I'm very proud of the record I've accomplished. But I want to shift my focus in a time when it's increasingly dysfunctional there. That's not the most productive way for me to spend my life."

Blumenauer was one of the early members of Congress who called for President Biden to leave the race for reelection. His reasoning being his belief the president did not have the time or energy to campaign while doing "more than a full time job."

"These times are unprecedented. Yeah, clearly he has lost a step. He's acknowledged that. But these are challenges that are literally unprecedented," he noted. "I have been doing this all my life. I have never seen anything like we have faced this last year. And I, frankly, don't think anybody could do both jobs, campaign and do the important work that the American people need."

Although he does not know her well, Blumenauer said since Biden stepped down, Vice President Kamala Harris has thoroughly impressed him as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

"I think she's been spectacular in highlighting the deficiencies of Donald Trump, who's increasingly unhinged. I mean, he clearly doesn't know how to deal with her, and it's kind of embarrassing," he said. "Coupled with the person that he's selected as vice president, who's having to explain himself with a number of bizarre theories, it's not been a good couple of months for the Republicans and I think Kamala Harris is off to a terrific start."

Known nationwide for advocacy for infrastructure, cycling and even marijuana reform, Blumenauer also pointed to an accomplishment that did not necessarily receive as much attention.

"The work we've done with international water and sanitation. We've saved millions of lives changing American policy to deal with some of the most desperate people around the globe," he said.

As far as legislative concerns in the road ahead, Blumenauer noted the inability of the Republican party to unify from within and work across the aisle.

"We're not in Congress for a week, because the Republicans could not agree on simple spending issues. And it's the far right couldn't agree with the extreme right. So they just shut the place down and sent us home," he said. "It's not like we didn't have anything to do. I'm really concerned about this increasing inability of the Republican Party to come together and govern and work with us to get things done."

On the topic of Maxine Dexter, the Democrat running to replace him, Blumenauer stated he was pleased with his "likely successor."

"She's working in the transition with my team, she understands healthcare, she's zeroed in on issues on the ground, willing to spend time working," he said. "She was very impressive in the legislature with the work she did dealing with behavioral health. And of course she's a doctor and she has had healthcare administration."

Even though the end of his term is coming soon, Blumenauer still expects to be engaged in various causes, but more on the local level.

"I'm deeply interested in what we do to kind of bring Portland back together," he stated. "I think I may be able to offer something to the mix here and be a resource and an ally. The issues don't change. What changes is the politics."