Rep. Bill Flores William (Bill) Hose FloresPatient Protection Pledge offers price transparency Texas GOP lawmaker calls for 'carbon neutral' but 'energy dominant' future OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden calls climate change one of America's four major crises | National parks chief says coronavirus staff shortages shouldn't prevent access | Trump hits California officials over wildfires MORE (R-Texas) on Wednesday announced he will not seek reelection to a sixth term in Congress, adding to the rush of Texas Republican lawmakers heading for the exit.

Flores, the first Republican to represent the Waco area since Reconstruction, won his seat in the Tea Party wave of 2010. He beat then-Rep. Chet Edwards (D) by a wider margin than any other challenger who ousted a sitting Democrat that year.

He said in a statement he intended to honor a term-limit pledge he made when he first ran for office.

ADVERTISEMENT

“After much prayer over the past few days and following conversations with my wife, Gina, during that time, I have decided that my current term will be my last,” Flores said.

In Congress, Flores aligned himself with party leadership. He chaired the conservative Republican Study Committee, beating then-Rep. Mick Mulvaney Mick MulvaneyOn The Money: House panel pulls Powell into partisan battles | New York considers hiking taxes on the rich | Treasury: Trump's payroll tax deferral won't hurt Social Security Blockchain trade group names Mick Mulvaney to board Mick Mulvaney to start hedge fund MORE (R-S.C.) on a second ballot. Mulvaney then helped found the House Freedom Caucus, an even farther-right group of lawmakers who made life difficult for Republican leaders.

Flores, who turned 65 in February, is the fifth Texas Republican to say he will not seek reelection next year, an unusual flood of exits that reflect the unpleasant realities of life in the minority in the House.

Republicans are likely to hold onto Flores’s seat, which stretches between College Station and Waco.

Flores never won less than 57 percent of the vote during his time in office, and President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE won the district by 18 points in 2016.

Updated at 9:35 a.m.