'It’s been a pleasure to serve the people of Arizona,' Pastor says. Arizona Dem Pastor to quit House

Democratic Rep. Ed Pastor, an 11-term Arizona congressman, won’t seek reelection in 2014, he announced Thursday.

“I’ve been in public office for 39 years and it’s been a pleasure to serve the people of Arizona,” Pastor, an Appropriations Committee member, said in a statement. “After 23 years in Congress, I feel it’s time for me to seek a new endeavor.”


Democrats will be heavily favored to retain Pastor’s seat. The 70-year-old congressman will vacate a Phoenix-based district that broke for President Barack Obama in 2012 with 72 percent of the vote. Pastor was a lock in the district, never winning reelection with less than 62 percent of the vote.

( PHOTOS: Who's leaving Congress?)

He joins a growing list of veteran House Democratic incumbents who are not running for another term. Earlier this week, Michigan Rep. John Dingell, the longest-serving House member, said he wouldn’t seek reelection.