Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the year, citing his “progressing” Parkinson’s disease and surgery this week to remove a “growth” from his kidney.
“In my 40 years in elected office, I have always put my constituents and my state of Georgia first,” he said in a statement obtained by TPM. “With the mounting health challenges I am facing, I have concluded that I will not be able to do the job over the long term in the manner the citizens of Georgia deserve. It goes against every fiber of my being to leave in the middle of my Senate term, but I know it’s the right thing to do on behalf of my state.”
His term is not up until 2022, but the 74-year-old has had recent falls and hospitalizations.
Isakson Communications Director Amanda Maddox confirmed, with an excerpt from the Georgia Constitution, that Gov. Brian Kemp (R) will appoint someone to fill the vacancy.
