Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., has decided to stick with his retirement plans and leave the Senate at the end of this year.
Politico reported Tuesday that Corker, who initially announced his retirement last fall before mulling over the possibility of running for another term, won't change his mind after all.
Corker's chief of staff Todd Womack told the news outlet his boss will end his Senate career after two terms.
"He's always believed and served as though he were only going to be in the Senate for two terms," Womack said. "And he was willing to listen to folks, but he really believes the decision he made in September was the right one and is going to be leaving the Senate at the end of the year."
Corker's original call to retire prompted Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., to enter the race for his seat. A recent poll found that she led Corker by 29 points in a head-to-head matchup in the state's GOP primary.
Newsmax's John Gizzi reported in early February that Blackburn planned to stay in the race even if Corker decided to run again.
In statement posted to her campaign's Twitter feed Tuesday morning, Blackburn thanked Corker for his Senate service.
"Now, we can unify the Republican Party and focus on defeating Democrat Phil Bredesen in November," she said.
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