Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen Rodney Procter FrelinghuysenBottom line Republican lobbying firms riding high despite uncertainty of 2020 race Ex-Rep. Frelinghuysen joins law and lobby firm MORE (R-N.J.), the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee who defied his party to vote against President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE's tax cuts, announced Monday that he will not seek reelection.

Frelinghuysen, 71, was a top Democratic target given the tilt of his district, which Trump won over Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE in 2016 by just a percentage point.

Trump's low approval ratings only raised Democratic hopes that they could defeat Frelinghuysen if he sought a 13th term — especially after passage of a tax-cut bill that puts a $10,000 ceiling on the exemption for local and state taxes and property taxes, which was expected to hit the Republican's district hard.

Frelinghuysen had touted his bipartisan credentials, but his decision to retire suggests he faced a difficult path at best to win reelection.

“I have worked in a bipartisan manner, not just in times of crisis but always, because I believe it best serves my constituents, my state and our country," Frelinghuysen said in a statement.

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"I have sincerely endeavored to earn that trust every day and I thank my constituents and my home state of New Jersey for the honor to serve and I will continue to do so to the best of my abilities through the end of my term," he said.

He follows endangered GOP lawmakers such as Reps. Darrell Issa Darrell Edward IssaDCCC reserves new ad buys in competitive districts, adds new members to 'Red to Blue' program Wife of former Rep. Duncan Hunter sentenced to 8 months of home confinement Harris endorses Democrat in tight California House race MORE (Calif.) and Ed Royce Edward (Ed) Randall RoyceThe 'extraordinary rendition' of a US Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, 'Hotel Rwanda' hero Gil Cisneros to face Young Kim in rematch of 2018 House race in California The most expensive congressional races of the last decade MORE (Calif.) in deciding to retire. Frelinghuysen is only in his first term as House Appropriations Committee chairman, a top post that lawmakers traditionally serve in for years.

Democrats need a net gain of 24 seats in this fall's midterms to win back control of the House.

Frelinghuysen has found himself at odds with the House GOP conference repeatedly over the past year.

After initially opposing a GOP ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill, Frelinghuysen voted for his party's ObamaCare legislation in May — and then came under criticism from activists in his district.

He was one of 12 House Republicans to vote against the GOP’s tax overhaul in December, and warned at the time that it would lead to tax increases for his constituents and “damage our state’s housing market and business environment.”

House GOP leaders considered removing Frelinghuysen as chairman of the Appropriations Committee in retaliation for bucking the party line on one of their biggest legislative priorities.

Frelinghuysen’s vote rubbed his colleagues the wrong way because committee chairmen are generally expected to support the leadership.

Rep. Mark Walker Bradley (Mark) Mark WalkerMike Johnson to run for vice chairman of House GOP conference The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Woodward book revelations rock Washington The Hill's 12:30 Report — Presented by Facebook — Trump, Biden duel in final stretch | Vaccine trial on pause after recipient's 'potentially unexplained illness' | Biden visits Michigan | Trump campaign has 18 events in 11 states planned in the next week MORE (R-N.C.), chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, told The Hill at the time that he had “real problems” with Frelinghuysen voting against the tax bill.

“This is a committee chairman who’s going to be pitching some kind of spending thing, and if you can’t get on board and support one of the promises we’ve made to the American people, I have real problems with that,” Walker said.

Frelinghuysen is now the ninth House committee chairman to opt against seeking reelection this year. But unlike most of the other committee chairmen who are retiring, Frelinghuysen would not have had to relinquish his gavel next year due to the GOP’s term-limit rules that only allow committee chairmen to serve for three consecutive terms.

His retirement could make it easier for Democrats to take advantage of an open seat this election cycle instead of attempting to topple a 12-term incumbent.

National Democrats are rallying around Mikie Sherrill, who had already launched a campaign against Frelinghuysen.

“Rep. Frelinghuysen’s retirement opens up a very competitive seat that is moving quickly toward Democrats. With veteran and former federal prosecutor Mikie Sherrill’s strong candidacy, and the abysmal approval ratings of Speaker [Paul] Ryan’s [R-Wis.] Republican Congress, Democrats are confident that this seat will turn blue [in] November,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Evan Lukaske said.

Republicans, however, expressed confidence that they could keep a longtime GOP seat in their column.

"This district has been held by a Republican since the 1980s, and we plan to keep it that way in November,” National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers Steven (Steve) Ernst StiversBusiness groups back pandemic insurance bill modeled on post-9/11 law National Retail Federation hosts virtual 'store tours' for lawmakers amid coronavirus Stronger patent rights would help promote US technological leadership MORE (R-Ohio) said in a statement.

Frelinghuysen’s district had already been rated a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election prognosticator.

His retirement is yet another boon for Democrats, who are seeking to take advantage of a growing number of open seats in districts already considered competitive.

Six House Republicans representing districts won by Clinton in 2016 won’t be seeking reelection, more than half of whom announced their plans within the last few weeks. They include Royce, Issa and Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Ileana Carmen Ros-Lehtinen'Trump show' convention sparks little interest on K Street Shalala to face Salazar in Florida rematch TechNet hires Hispanic communications director MORE (Fla.), Dave Reichert David (Dave) George ReichertWashington Rep. Kim Schrier wins primary Mail ballot surge places Postal Service under spotlight Bottom Line MORE (Wash.) and Patrick Meehan (Pa.).

Rep. Martha McSally Martha Elizabeth McSallyMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Will Republicans' rank hypocrisy hinder their rush to replace Ginsburg? Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE (R-Ariz.), meanwhile, is running for the Senate instead of seeking reelection in her competitive Clinton-carried district.

Other open swing seats eyed by Democrats include those currently held by retiring Republican Reps. Frank LoBiondo Frank Alo LoBiondoVan Drew wins GOP primary in New Jersey Amy Kennedy wins NJ primary to face GOP's Van Drew Stimulus price tag of .2T falls way short, some experts say MORE (N.J.), Charlie Dent Charles (Charlie) Wieder DentRepublican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Biden picks up endorsements from nearly 100 Republicans Bush endorsing Biden? Don't hold your breath MORE (Pa.) and Dave Trott David Alan TrottFormer GOP Michigan congressman says Trump is unfit for office Pro-Trump Republican immigrant to challenge Dem lawmaker who flipped Michigan seat Meet the lawmakers putting politics aside to save our climate MORE (Mich.).

In another sign of a potentially difficult year for the party, House Republicans will have to deal with far more open seats this election cycle than Democrats.

House Republicans will have to defend at least 35 open seats this year due to retirements, resignations and lawmakers running for another office. Democrats, meanwhile, have less than half as many open seats as they seek to expand their electoral map.

Updated at 3:20 p.m.