Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) announced today that she will not run for re-election in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District and will retire after her 4th term.
She said that while the length of service in Congress is determined by the member of Congress or the voters themselves she said, “In my opinion eight years is long enough to represent a specific congressional district.”
She said that her decision was not reflective of any concerns about being reelected to Congress. She won a hotly contested race in 2012 deciding to run for re-election after ending her presidential campaign after a disappointing finish in the Iowa Caucus. She squeaked by her Democrat challenger, Jim Graves, 50.5% to 49.3% with a vote margin of 4,297 votes. Graves recently announced his intentions to run again in 2014.
She also says that this decision also has nothing to do with the recent inquires into her former Presidential campaign and staff. There are currently numerous agencies investigating the Bachmann campaign’s alleged payments to her former Iowa co-chair State Senator Kent Sorenson (R-Indianola). Former Iowa campaign staffer Barb Heki also filed a lawsuit last year against the Bachmann campaign over the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators list being leaked. She also filed a criminal complaint against Sorenson whom she accused of taking the list which former Bachmann for President Iowa Campaign manager Eric Woolson testified to in a sworn affidavit.
She also said, “I’ve never considered holding office to be an occupation, but I consider it to be both an honor and a privilege, but most importantly a significant responsibility.”
She indicated that she has not closed the door to politics, but didn’t say in what capacity that may be. She said in her remaining 18 months she will work overtime to defend constitutional conservative values in Congress.
You can watch her almost 9 minute video below:
Photo credit: Dave Davidson