Jerry Nadler Ending Congressional Career, Fearing What Happened to Biden Will Happen to Him

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.” The classic nursery rhyme could just as easily describe the career of Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, who announced he will step down when his term expires in January 2027.

Nadler, 78, has held office since 1977, embodying the very definition of a political lifer. In an interview with The New York Times, he admitted that former President Joe Biden’s defeat at the hands of President Donald Trump was the driving factor in his decision to retire.

“Watching the Biden thing really said something about the necessity for generational change in the party, and I think I want to respect that,” Nadler said Monday.

In other words, Nadler is walking away before the Democrat establishment does to him what it did to Biden.

The longtime congressman also called on fellow senior Democrats to follow his lead and exit the stage.

“I’m not saying we should change over the entire party,” Nadler insisted. “But I think a certain amount of change is very helpful, especially when we face the challenge of Trump and his incipient fascism.”

The irony here is unmistakable. Nadler claims he is leaving to make way for “generational change,” when in truth his tenure has been defined by decades of ineffectiveness. His constituents have little to point to after his 33 years in Congress.

Nadler’s declining health has also been a constant subject of speculation. For years, he has appeared visibly frail and unwell, often raising questions about his ability to serve.

His most notable role came as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023, where he presided over President Trump’s baseless first impeachment — an effort that ultimately collapsed in the Senate. By December 2024, Nadler was forced to step down as the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee after party members blasted him for being too weak in his approach against Trump.

Beyond failed leadership, Nadler became infamous in Washington for regularly dozing off during hearings — a symbol of his disengagement and lack of seriousness in office.

Like so many entrenched left-wing politicians, Nadler should have bowed out years ago instead of treating taxpayer-funded office as a personal retirement plan. Still, his exit is welcome news. And if there’s any justice, other career Democrats will soon follow him into retirement.