Congressman Heath Shuler announced Thursday afternoon he will not run for re-election, continuing the number of Democrats who have decided not to seek a re-election.
Shuler had been considered a possible candidate for governor. He is a former high school football star in Western North Carolina who played for the University of Tennessee and the Washington Redskins.
He represents the 11th District.
“Last week I spent a lot of time at home with my family discussing the possibility of running for governor of North Carolina,” Shuler said in a statement. “This time of reflection and prayer gave us the opportunity to talk about the best course of action for us as a family moving forward. It was during this time that I reached the decision not to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.
“This was not an easy decision. However, I am confident that it is the right decision. It is a decision I have weighed heavily over the past few months. I have always said family comes first, and I never intended to be a career politician. I am ready to refocus my priorities and spend more time at home with my wife, Nikol, and two young children.”
Shuler said not having to focus on re-election “will give me the opportunity to focus my time and energy on these initiatives without the constant demands of a re-election campaign.”
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