Doyle, Pennsylvania congressional delegation dean, to retire

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, the dean of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, said Monday he will not seek another term in office in next year’s election, bringing his career in Washington to an end after 28 years.

Doyle said at a news conference at his Pittsburgh office that it is time to pass the torch to a new generation, as the pandemic accelerated his thoughts about retirement plans with his wife and redistricting will likely bring substantial change to the district’s boundaries.

Doyle, 68, was first elected in 1994, and served in office as Pittsburgh transformed its economy from steel to high-tech. He voted in line with the area’s influential labor unions, racking up an almost perfect lifetime score — 98% — from the AFL-CIO.

Doyle serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and chairs its subcommittee on communications and technology.

His district includes all of Pittsburgh and some of its increasingly leftward-leaning suburbs, and has easily won re-election in the heavily Democratic district.

Doyle’s retirement could set off a scramble among the city’s Democrats in a bid to replace him. The area’s other Democrat in Congress, Conor Lamb, is running for U.S. Senate.