Chester County’s Ryan Costello ran for Congress intending to solve the important issues facing the country, but he believes he was thwarted by the current political climate, writes George Packer for The New Yorker.

Costello, who imagined government service to be a noble calling when he was growing up, had wanted to be a Congressman since he was 21. The young Republican served on the Board of Supervisors for East Vincent Township, then was elected Chairman of the Chester County Commissioners.

Four years ago, Costello won Pennsylvania’s Sixth Congressional District seat.

After arriving in Washington, D.C., the Owen J. Roberts High School grad focused on mastering policy. He supported stronger background checks for gun purchases and made environmental protection a priority. At the same time, he remained loyal to the House Republican majority.

“And then Trump gets elected,” said Costello. “And the norms of politics all just blow up.”

Being a moderate Republican in the Trump era put him in everyone’s sights. Democrats berated him for complicity, while Republicans attacked him for disloyalty.

When the congressional district lines in Pennsylvania were redrawn earlier this year, Costello announced his retirement from Congress.

Read more about Ryan Costello in The New Yorker here.