Rep. Bob Goodlatte's district has long been a safe seat for Republicans. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images Goodlatte to retire after 2018

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the term-limited chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said on Thursday that he will not seek reelection in 2018.

“With my time as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee ending in December 2018, this is a natural stepping-off point and an opportunity to begin a new chapter of my career and spend more time with my family, particularly my granddaughters,” the Virginia Republican said in a statement.


Goodlatte, a 13-term incumbent, is the latest in a string of Republicans opting against running for reelection. In the last week, three Texas congressman — Jeb Hensarling, Ted Poe and Lamar Smith — also left safely conservative seats behind. Hensarling and Smith were also term-limited as committee chairmen.

As recently as July, Goodlatte’s staff sought to squash rumors that the 65-year-old congressman planned to retire.

Goodlatte’s decision opens a Republican-leaning seat, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, which backed President Donald Trump by a 24-point margin.