Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI, to Retire

Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI
(Photo from Rep. Walden's website)

Representative Greg Walden of Oregon, who is also W7EQI and a champion of amateur radio in Congress, has announced that he will not seek re-election to a 12th term in 2020. Walden is the highest-ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and chaired the panel in 2017-18, when Republicans held a majority in the House of Representatives.
 

According to the ARRL Letter, Walden has been a strong supporter of amateur radio throughout his two-decade tenure as a Congressman, and was awarded the ARRL's first Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, Achievement Award in 2014. Walden told Politico "the time has come to pursue new challenges and opportunities … I will close the public service chapter of my life, thankful for the friends I’ve made and the successful work we’ve done together."