Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced on Friday that he will not seek re-election in 2016.
The New York Times first reported the news on Friday morning.
Reid told the Times that he had been considering retirement for a few months, and that neither his eye injury nor his new place in the Senate minority contributed to his decision.
“I want to be able to go out at the top of my game,” he told the Times. “I don’t want to be a 42-year-old trying to become a designated hitter.”
He also said he was concerned that running again would take money away from races in other states.
“I think it is unfair for me to be soaking up all the money to be re-elected with what we are doing in Maryland, in Pennsylvania, in Missouri, in Florida,” Reid said. “These are big, expensive states.”
Reid made his announcement in a video released on Friday.
My life’s work has been to make Nevada and our nation better. Thank you for giving me that wonderful opportunity. https://t.co/dwy2rDWYhO
— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) March 27, 2015
“My friend Sen. McConnell, don’t be too elated. I’m going to be here for 22 months. And you know what I’m going to be doing? The same thing I’ve done since I first came to the Senate,” Reid said in the video announcement.
Watch his announcement below:
This post has been updated.
