In this July 28, 2017, file photo, Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., arrives for a House Republican Conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Reichert said Sept. 6, 2017, he is retiring from Congress after seven terms.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Republican Rep. Dave Reichert of Washington state said Wednesday that he was retiring from Congress after seven terms, giving Democrats renewed hope of winning a district solely held by Republicans since its creation more than three decades ago.
Reichert, 67, a former sheriff known for his work that led to the capture of a serial killer convicted of killing 49 women, has represented a suburban district east of Seattle since 2005. It’s one of four Republican-held House seats in a state where Democrats make up the majority of the congressional delegation.
Reichert said in a written statement that his decision not to seek re-election was difficult, but added, “I believe it was the right one for my family and me. I have spent my entire career and devoted my life to service. I see this not just as a job, but as a calling — a calling I will not walk away from.”
