 -- Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich announced Wednesday he has decided against running for Congress in Washington state, where activists had urged him to launch a campaign. In a statement, Kucinich signaled the end of his 16-year congressional career:

Because of my love of public service, I have given a great deal of time and much thought to the advice and encouragement I have received from so many people of good will in Washington State. I certainly want to continue to be of service to our country and to the working men and women who have built it.

After careful consideration and discussions with Elizabeth and my closest friends, I have decided that, at this time, I can best serve from outside the Congress. My commitments to peace, to workers' rights and to social and economic justice are constant and are not dependent upon holding an office.

When the outspoken anti-war lawmaker discovered over a year ago that redistricting would pit him against fellow Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Kucinich began openly eyeing a Washington state U.S. House bid, saying voters there were asking him to relocate.

But after losing to Kaptur in his home state primary in March, Kucinich now confirms that he will not pursue a congressional bid there or anywhere else.

In his statement Wednesday, Kucinich emphasized the "encouragement" he received in Washington state, but locally there was also much vocal criticism of his flirtation with a possible run.

He was publicly lambasted there as a "carpetbagger" and openly criticized by state Democratic officials.

"Dennis Kucinich has to decide what his legacy is going to be. Will he be remembered as a principled member of Congress or the narcissist who lost two Congressional races in two states the same year?" Democratic state party chairman Dwight Pelz told the Seattle Times last month.

More popular Yahoo! News stories:

• Kimmel cut WHCD joke per Jake Tapper's advice

• Mitt Romney calls Democratic attacks over Bain 'really off-target'

• Obama tries 'hoagie diplomacy' with congressional leaders

Want more of our best political stories? Visit The Ticket or connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or add us on Tumblr. Handy with a camera? Join our Election 2012 Flickr group to submit your photos of the campaign in action.