DALLAS _ U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling won't run for re-election next year.
"Today I am announcing that I will not seek re-election to the U.S. Congress in 2018. Although service in Congress remains the greatest privilege of my life, I never intended to make it a lifetime commitment, and I have already stayed far longer than I had originally planned," the Texas Republican wrote to supporters Tuesday.
Hensarling has represented Congressional District 5 in the Dallas area since 2003. He chairs the powerful Financial Services Committee and has been a strong voice in regulating the financial industry.
A staunch constitutional conservative, Hensarling has long believed that Congress was not a place for career politicians. Yet his announcement comes as a surprise to those who felt that he would be in line for more influential leadership posts.
The filing period for the March primary starts Nov. 11, leaving potential successors little time to make a decision and start the campaign process. District 5 includes the southeast portion of Dallas County including Mesquite and stretches southeast into Kaufman, Anderson, Henderson and Cherokee counties. It has been reliably Republican, with President Donald Trump taking 63 percent of the vote last November.
But Hensarling said Tuesday he wanted to spend more time with his family.
"Since my term as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee comes to an end next year, the time seems right for my departure," he wrote in a statement. "Although I will not be running for re-election, there are 14 months left in my congressional term to continue the fight for individual liberty, free enterprise and limited constitutional government _ the causes for which I remain passionate."
"Much work remains at the House Financial Services Committee in the areas of housing finance reform, regulatory relief, cyber security and capital formation to name just a few," he said. "Furthermore, important work remains in the Congress as a whole _ especially pro-growth tax reform. I look forward to continuing this work on behalf of the people of the 5th District of Texas and all Americans."
Hensarling is the second North Texas congressman to opt against another term in Congress. In January GOP Rep. Sam Johnson of Plano announced that he would retire when his term ends next year.
