Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has announced that he will not run for a ninth term in the Senate in 2022.
Related: Two More Senior House Democrats Announce Retirement
Leahy is the longest-serving sitting senator and has the fourth-longest senatorial tenure of all time. He’s also the only Democrat ever to represent Vermont in the Senate (don’t forget that Bernie Sanders is technically an independent).
“While I will continue to serve Vermont, Marcelle and I have reached a conclusion: it is time to put down the gavel,” said Leahy, referring to his wife. “It is time to pass the torch to the next Vermonter, who’ll carry on this work for our great state. It’s time to come home.”
“I will not run for reelection,” he added.
Leahy made his announcement at the Vermont State House, where he announced his first Senate campaign in 1974.
When Leahy’s term expires in January 2023, it will end a Senate career that began in 1975.
Let that sink in for a minute: when Patrick Leahy started in the Senate, disco was not only not yet dead, it was still on the rise.
In his announcement, Leahy touted his accomplishments: pressing for standards for organic food and banning land mines. He also chaired various committees, including the Appropriations Committee he currently oversees.
Best of luck to Senator Leahy and his family in the future.
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