U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said this morning that he will not seek re-election in 2014.

Bachus, 65, said in a statement released by email that he will retire from congress at the conclusion of his current term in December 2014.

Bachus, who has represented the state's 6th congressional district since 1993, is the senior member of Alabama's congressional delegation.

“It has been the greatest privilege imaginable to serve as the representative of the people of Alabama in the United States House of Representatives," Bachus said. "It is an honor that I never dreamed could have been possible for me and the words ‘thank you’ are far from adequate."

Bachus won re-election to an 11th term in November, capturing 71 percent of the vote against Col. Penny Bailey, his first Democratic challenger since 1998. He won the GOP nomination over a field of three challengers including state Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale.

But Bachus was likely to face a tough challenge from the right in 2014. The Campaign for Primary Accountability, a conservative Super PAC, announced earlier this year that it was aiming to unseat Bachus in 2014.

Another conservative organization, the Madison Project, claimed credit for driving Bachus out of office.

"This is another example of winning without firing a shot," said Daniel Horowitz, policy director for the Washington-based campaign group. "Bachus knew that at least one or two legitimate challengers were planning to announce, and the polling was not looking favorable for him."

Bachus is the second of Alabama's seven-member congressional delegation to announce his retirement this year. U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, left Congress on Aug. 2 to take a new job with the University of Alabama System in Tuscaloosa.

A special election is underway in the 1st congressional district to fill Bonner's vacant seat.

The departure of Bachus should set up a spirited primary for the 6th district seat he's held for two decades. The district is rated as one of the most conservative in America by the Cook Political Report, and "safe Republican" by the Rothenberg Political Report.

The district surrounds metropolitan Birmingham, encompassing Bibb, Chilton, Coosa and Shelby counties. It also includes parts of Jefferson and Blount counties.

Early names mentioned as potential candidates include Beason, state Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, state Sens. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, and Slade Blackwell, R-Montevallo.

Other new names: orthopedic surgeon Chad Mathis of Indian Springs and conservative blogger Cliff Sims of YellowhammerNews.com.

"The 6th district needs someone who's willing to stand toe-to-toe with special interests and entrenched politicians like Nancy Pelosi and not blink," Sims told AL.com. "I've proven beyond a shadow of a doubt with Yellowhammer that I'm willing to do that on a daily basis."

Bachus' announcement came on a day when Congress is embroiled in debate over whether to shut down the federal government, a move backed by House Republicans as a means to stop funding for the controversial Affordable Care Act.

Bachus said he hoped to use his remaining time in office to focus on federal spending.

"There is much important work that remains to be done and what I would like to see above anything else before I leave is a spending reduction plan that will put the federal government on a sensible and sustainable financial path going forward," Bachus said.

As chairman of House Financial Services Committee, Bachus was the first Republican from Alabama to chair a House committee since 1873 and the first Alabamian to chair what was historically known as the Banking Committee since Rep. Henry Bascom Steagall in 1931.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, described Bachus as a "steadfast public servant" and a leader on financial policy issues in Congress.

"He provided steady leadership during one of our nation’s toughest financial crises," Walden said. "His expertise and bipartisan work ethic will be greatly missed in Congress."

Bachus was among several lawmakers who faced scrutiny last year over possible violations of Securities and Exchange Commission laws that prohibit insider-trading rules. He was cleared of wrongdoing by the Office of Congressional Ethics, which dismissed the charges unanimously.

A native of Birmingham, Bachus previously served in the Alabama House and Senate as well as on the state Board of Education. He ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 1990 and later served as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.

Bachus is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of Alabama School of Law. He served in the Alabama National Guard during the Vietnam War, and owned a sawmill prior to his political career.

"As Ecclesiastes 3 says, to everything there is a season and I feel in my heart that now is the time for me to announce this decision and allow others to have the opportunity to serve," Bachus said today. "This was a family decision, because my wife Linda, our five children, and our seven grandchildren have always been my biggest source of support, strength, and joy."

Bachus discussed his decision to retire in an interview this morning with "Good Day Alabama" host Janice Rogers on WBRC-Fox 6 in Birmingham: