Moderate Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Gerlach to Retire

Pennsylvania Rep. Jim Gerlach, one of a shrinking number of Republican moderates in the House, has announced he will retire from Congress at the end of his term.

Gerlach said it's "simply time for me to move on to new challenges and to spend more time with my wife and family."

The six-term veteran's decision opens up a district anchored in the outer suburbs of Philadelphia, as well as a coveted seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Gerlach has routinely had relatively close elections, though the latest round of redistricting made it more GOP-friendly.