U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack announced Friday that he will retire at the end of this term, after representing Iowa in Congress for 14 years.

The Iowa City Democrat, who is 66, was first elected to the House in 2006.

"I have enjoyed beyond my expectations serving the people of Iowa’s Second District for the past 13 years," Loebsack wrote in a news release Friday. "Having grown up in poverty, I never would have imagined having the honor of serving as the voice of Iowans in the U.S. House of Representatives."

The laid-back congressman started his political career as an underdog. He was a relatively unknown political science professor from Cornell College when he took on Congressman Jim Leach, a moderate Republican who had represented eastern Iowa in the House for 30 years. Loebsack's victory was seen nationally as one of the biggest upsets of the 2006 election.

Loebsack represents Iowa's Second Congressional District, which covers roughly the southeast quarter of the state.

He spent part of his career as the state's sole Democrat in either the U.S. House or Senate. That changed after last November's election when Democratic challengers Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer defeated Republican incumbents to take House seats.

Loebsack said he initially intended to spend no more than 12 years in Congress, meaning he would have retired before the 2018 election.

"However, after Donald Trump assumed the presidency, it became apparent that I needed to run for at least one more term in the hopes that I could provide a check on his worst impulses," the congressman wrote.

"Currently, there are nearly two years remaining in this term and I look forward to playing an important role in the new House majority, not only to prevent further damage done by President Trump, but to also help set the stage for a new Democratic president to be inaugurated in January of 2021."

The Iowa Democratic Party lauded Loebsack's service to Iowa.

"For over a decade, he has been a tireless advocate for veterans, worked to grow eastern Iowa's wind and energy sectors, and has stood up for Iowa’s hardworking families," the party said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our work with Congressman Loebsack over the next 19 months on our key values, and we are confident that we will keep eastern Iowa blue and elect another progressive voice to represent the second district in 2020.”

Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, vowed Friday that the party will nominate a strong candidate to replace him.

“Congressman Dave Loebsack has been a tremendous partner over the years and I’ve been honored to work with him to strengthen our local economy and get real results for the families we serve along the Mississippi River," Bustos wrote. "While I am saddened to learn that he will be leaving Congress at the end of next year, he has earned his retirement and I wish him and his family the best.

Tony Leys covers health care and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at tleys@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8449.