More House members want out of their "broken" chamber to seek higher office

Two House members launched bids for U.S. Senate on Tuesday — and more of their colleagues in the lower chamber may soon follow in their footsteps.Why it matters: To some lawmakers, the large number of House members seeking higher office in recent election cycles reflects what they see as the institution's growing dysfunction."The House is broken, doesn't pass legislation, doesn't work anymore," said one House Democrat, calling the lower chamber "just a big comms shop."Former Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) told Axios he has heard "increased frustration" from his former House colleagues, who are chafing under four years of Republican control.Driving the news: Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.) both launched campaigns for open U.S. Senate seats in their states.Unlike Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), who appears to be on a glide path for the Senate nomination in his state, Stevens and Barr are both entering what will likely be bitterly contested primaries.They likely won't be the last: At least three House Democrats are sizing up Sen. Dick Durbin's (D-Ill.) seat if he retires.Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) is seen as likely to challenge Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for her state's Senate seat.Zoom out: It's not just the Senate. Three House Republicans and two Democrats are currently running for governor. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is likely to run for governor, as Axios has previously reported.After her nomination for ambassador to the United Nations was pulled, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is now looking at a run for governor as her best opportunity to move up.Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) have both openly expressed interest in challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.Several House Republicans from Iowa also cracked open the door to running for governor after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her retirement.Yes, but: Some House members argued to Axios that these runs are more a sign of personal ambition than any broader dynamics."Generally ambitious people who don't care as much about what they do as the next title run from the House to the Senate," said a second House Democrat, calling it a "common occurrence."The lawmaker added: "If you actually want to be in the majority and do something, you stay in the House."A third House Democrat told Axios their "candidate recruitment is through the roof" and that it "would be a different matter if these folks were retiring altogether."What to watch: Retirements could be coming next, with Democrats in particular bracing for many of their older members to step aside amid growing efforts by the party's grassroots to primary them. Last election cycle saw a historically large wave of House members — including many well below retirement age — opt to leave the chamber."We're certainly seeing retirements too, and across party and chambers," the third House Democrat acknowledged.

Two House members launched bids for U.S. Senate on Tuesday — and more of their colleagues in the lower chamber may soon follow in their footsteps.

Why it matters: To some lawmakers, the large number of House members seeking higher office in recent election cycles reflects what they see as the institution's growing dysfunction."The House is broken, doesn't pass legislation, doesn't work anymore," said one House Democrat, calling the lower chamber "just a big comms shop."Former Rep.

Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) told Axios he has heard "increased frustration" from his former House colleagues, who are chafing under four years of Republican control.Driving the news: Reps.

Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Andy Barr (R-Ky.) both launched campaigns for open U.

S. Senate seats in their states.Unlike Rep.

Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), who appears to be on a glide path for the Senate nomination in his state, Stevens and Barr are both entering what will likely be bitterly contested primaries.

They likely won't be the last: At least three House Democrats are sizing up Sen. Dick Durbin's (D-Ill.) seat if he retires.

Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) is seen as likely to challenge Lt.

Gov. Peggy Flanagan for her state's Senate seat.Zoom out: It's not just the Senate.

Three House Republicans and two Democrats are currently running for governor. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.

C.) is likely to run for governor, as Axios has previously reported.After her nomination for ambassador to the United Nations was pulled, Rep.

Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is now looking at a run for governor as her best opportunity to move up.

Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.

) and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) have both openly expressed interest in challenging Democratic Gov.

Kathy Hochul.Several House Republicans from Iowa also cracked open the door to running for governor after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds announced her retirement.

Yes, but: Some House members argued to Axios that these runs are more a sign of personal ambition than any broader dynamics."Generally ambitious people who don't care as much about what they do as the next title run from the House to the Senate," said a second House Democrat, calling it a "common occurrence."The lawmaker added: "If you actually want to be in the majority and do something, you stay in the House.

"A third House Democrat told Axios their "candidate recruitment is through the roof" and that it "would be a different matter if these folks were retiring altogether."What to watch: Retirements could be coming next, with Democrats in particular bracing for many of their older members to step aside amid growing efforts by the party's grassroots to primary them. Last election cycle saw a historically large wave of House members — including many well below retirement age — opt to leave the chamber.

"We're certainly seeing retirements too, and across party and chambers," the third House Democrat acknowledged..