Rep. Ted Poe announced Tuesday he will be joining the ranks of Republicans not seeking re-election in 2018.
"I am grateful for the honor and privilege to represent the best people in America, Texas's Second Congressional District," the seven-term Republican said in the announcement on social media.
"Thanks to the good Lord, I'm in good health, but it's time for the next step," he said, saying he intends to spend his time with his 12 grandchildren who have been born since he was first elected.
"I am proud of the work that my office has accomplished: giving crime victims a voice, helping to combat human trafficking, and fighting for our constitutional rights and individual liberty," he said. "I will continue this work every day until I retire at the end of this term."
Poe said over the summer he had been diagnosed with Leukemia, but noted in his announcement he has "good health."
Poe joins Texas Republican members of Congress Lamar Smith and Jeb Hensarling in saying they won't seek another term. He's the second Republican, after New Jersey's Frank LoBiondo, to announce on Tuesday he's leaving Congress.
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