The powerful chairman of the House Armed Services Committee will retire at the end of his term.
Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., announced at a Thursday morning press conference that he will not run for re-election in 2014.
He will have served for 11 terms.
McKeon's retirement leaves open a seat that is "absolutely competitive," according to a Democratic aide. The aide noted that President Obama won McKeon's district in 2008, and got 48 percent of the vote in 2012.
McKeon's decision to retire may be tied to the fact that his six-year term as the Republican leader for the Armed Services Committee is coming to an end.
The announcement from McKeon makes him the 10th Republican to announce that he will be retiring at the end of this term. Six Democrats have also announced they will not seek re-election, bringing the total number of retirements to 16.
