By Trish Svoboda

Congressman Jake LaTurner issued a statement on April 18 announcing that though he will serve the remainder of the 118th Congress, he will not be seeking reelection this fall.

“The people of Kansas who elected me to serve in the United States House of Representatives have given me the professional honor of my life, but it is time to pursue other opportunities and have the benefit of spending more time with my family.” wrote LaTurner.

LaTurner was 24 years old when he was first sworn into the Kansas State Senate, and was the youngest statewide elected official in the U.S. when he was appointed State Treasurer. He wrote that he is hopeful that in the future he can contribute and advocate for issues that are important to him with new perspectives.

LaTurner makes nearly 20 House Republicans who have left or are planning to leave Congress without immediate plans to run for another office. Five others are seeking higher office. That is in addition to more than a dozen Democrats who are retiring this term and another dozen leaving to seek higher office. Lawmakers have cited as reasons for leaving the growing frustrations of congressional work, increasing incivility between colleagues, and a general difficulty in governing.