Rep. Patrick McHenry Bows Out

With the national debt at $33 trillion and counting, and the economy on a slow-growth trajectory, economic policy-making should be at a premium on Capitol Hill. Yet Republicans are losing another lawmaker who’s serious about such things, after North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry said Tuesday he won’t run for re-election next year.

Mr. McHenry’s most famous role was spending three weeks as interim Speaker, after the GOP mutiny that ousted Kevin McCarthy. It was a silly interlude, but Mr. McHenry presided ably, in his trademark bow tie. His statement Tuesday didn’t give a specific reason for stepping aside in 2024, other than that there’s “a season for everything.” He even tried to tamp down pessimism.