A few weeks ago, after a number of his home state colleagues decided to call it quits, longtime GOP Rep. Joe Barton felt the need to make it clear that he'd seek re-election to the House next year seat, but … well, that was before he apologized on Wednesday after “a graphic nude photo” of the Texas congressman began circulating online courtesy an anonymous Twitter account.
Barton didn’t deny the provenance of the photo, but he offered little explanation as to how it became public. In an opaque statement to the Texas Tribune, he would only say:
"While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women. Each was consensual. Those relationships have ended. I am sorry I did not use better judgment during those days. I am sorry that I let my constituents down."
According to the Dallas Morning News, the photo surfaced “earlier this week” and quickly made the rounds among Texas politicos, setting off speculation about Barton’s future. Indeed, on Tuesday, before all of this became widely known (but, apparently, after the photo was made public), Nathan Gonzales tweeted that GOP sources had told him Barton might resign or retire.
And he just may. Barton himself told the Tribune's Abby Livingston that he's reconsidering his options, saying, "You're as aware of what was posted as I am," he said. "I am talking to a number of people, all of whom I have faith in and am deciding how to respond, quite frankly."
Even if Barton bails, though, Republicans would still be favored to hold his 6th District seat around Arlington in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. However, this district did become somewhat bluer last year, narrowing from a 58-41 win for Mitt Romney in 2012 to a smaller 54-42 victory for Donald Trump in 2016, and given how strong Democratic recruitment has been in tough seats, it would make sense for Team Blue to make a play here. The candidate filing deadline is Dec. 11, so the 68-year-old Barton has only a little time to decide what to do.