Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., announced Thursday he will not seek re-election in 2018, joining more than a dozen GOP House members retiring from office.
Goodlatte currently chairs the powerful House Judiciary Committee, known for strong positions on immigration. He has represented the Virginia’s 6th Congressional District since 1993 — a district often considered safe for the Republican Party.
“Every two years, Maryellen (his wife) and I sat down to discuss whether to run again or not. When we discussed the 2018 election, the conversation ended a little differently than in past years,” he said in a statement.
“After much contemplation and prayer, we decided it was the right time for me to step aside and let someone else serve the Sixth District. I will not seek re-election. With my time as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee ending in December 2018, this is a natural stepping-off point and an opportunity to begin a new chapter of my career and spend more time with my family, particularly my granddaughters.”
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