Rep. José Serrano, D-N.Y., announced on Monday that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and has decided not to run for re-election in 2020, The Hill reports.
“Today, I am announcing that I am living with Parkinson’s disease,” Serrano said in a press release.
“After my diagnosis, I initially planned to continue my work representing the people of the South Bronx far into the future — a responsibility that brings me great joy,” he continued. “Although this disease has not affected my work in Congress, over the last few months, I’ve come to the realization that Parkinson’s will eventually take a toll, and that I cannot predict its rate of advancement. Because of this uncertainty, I do not intend to seek re-election in 2020. I do intend to serve the remainder of my term in the 116th Congress.”
Serrano, 75, first won election to Congress in 1990, and has served longer than any other Hispanic-American legislator. He is the Chairman of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, and Dean of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The congressman represents New York’s 15th District, which Democrat Hillary Clinton won in 2016 with 94 percent of the vote. City councilman Ritchie Torres announced a committee to explore running to the seat prior to Serrano’s announcement.
“Jose Serrano is an icon. He’s been an inspiration to young Latino [elected officials] like myself for decades. He should be celebrated for his public service,” Torres told Politico.
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