Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) won't seek reelection in 2020, he announced Thursday, opening up a potential battleground district in the Houston suburbs.
Olson, who was first elected in 2008, said he was leaving the seat to spend more time with his family.
"As someone who has long advocated for policies that put our families first, it’s time for me to take my own advice and be a more consistent presence to help our family," he said.
"To that end, while I will complete my term in the 116th Congress, I will not be seeking reelection."While the seat has been solidly Republican for decades and was once represented by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Democrats have made inroads in recent years. President Donald Trump won 52 percent of the district in 2016, down from Mitt Romney's 62 percent four years earlier. Olson defeated Democrat Sri Kulkarni in 2018, 51 percent to 46 percent — down from Olson's 19-point victory two years earlier.
Kulkarni is running again and had $345,000 in cash on hand as of June 30.
On the Republican side, Troy Nehls, the outgoing sheriff of Fort Bend County, is reportedly exploring a campaign, even before Olson's announcement.
Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine