North Carolina Republican won’t seek reelection after congressional map redrawn

North Carolina Republican Rep. George Holding announced Friday that he will not seek reelection, saying in a statement that “newly redrawn congressional districts were part of the reason” for his decision.

Holding, who represents the state’s second congressional district, has served in Congress since 2013 and is a member of the House Budget, Ethics and Ways and Means committees.

But, according to the Raleigh, North Carolina-based newspaper The News & Observer, Holding’s GOP-leaning House district was redrawn into a district that now leans Democratic and the congressman had ruled out the possibility of challenging another Republican incumbent in 2020 to win reelection.

In a statement on Friday, Holding said it has been “gratifying to work for the ideals and values that I, like many other Americans, believe in,” and it is “with regret that I announce I will not be a candidate for Congress this election.”

“I should add, candidly, that yes, the newly redrawn congressional districts were part of the reason I have decided not to seek reelection,” Holding said.

“But, in addition, this is also a good time for me to step back and reflect on all that I have learned,” the congressman said.

The news comes as more than a dozen House Republicans along with some House Democrats have announced that they too will not seek reelection ahead of the upcoming contest for control of the House, opting instead to retire at the end of their current term. This week alone saw several retirements announcements with Republican Rep. Tom Graves of Georgia and Democrat Denny Heck of Washington both making known their own plans not to run for office in the upcoming election.