Democratic congressional candidate Eddie Bernice Johnson is ending decades in politics by not seeking re-election, CNN has learned.
Johnson, 75, a powerful congresswoman who represents Texas’ ninth district in Dallas, is not expected to run for re-election for re-election, three Democratic sources said. She is considering exploring the possibility of a mayoral run in her hometown of Dallas and plans to meet with potential donors for a potential mayoral bid soon, one source said.
She would be the first African-American to win election to the congressional seat.
The opening of Johnson’s seat signals a changing of the guard, with party elders retiring as they get older and the next generation of future leaders take hold.
Johnson’s exit is among a number of retirements this cycle, including former Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana, Rep. Michael Grimm of New York, Rep. David Jolly of Florida, Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey, Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Rep. Jeff Denham of California, Rep. Chris Gibson of New York, Rep. Michael Grimm of New York, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado, Rep. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois, Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania, Rep. Tom Reed of New York, Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado, Rep. Bill Foster of Illinois, Rep. Bill Enyart of Illinois, Rep. David Valadao of California, Rep. Robert Latta of Ohio, Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona, Rep. Francis Rooney of Florida, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois, Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, Rep. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, Rep. Charles Dent of Pennsylvania, Rep. Randy Forbes of Virginia, Rep. Will Hurd of Texas, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, Rep. Dan Donovan of New York, Rep. John Tierney of Massachusetts, Rep. Rod Blum of Iowa, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Rep. John Carter of Texas, Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada, Rep. Tony Cárdenas of California, Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas, Rep. William Keating of Massachusetts, Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia, Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado, Rep. Chris Gibson of New York, Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Texas, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, Rep. John Katko of New York, Rep. Dave Reichert of Washington, Rep. Dave Trott of Michigan, Rep. Jeff Denham of California, Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin, Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Rep. David Valadao of California, Rep. Bill Flores of Texas, Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, Rep. Jeff Denham of California, Rep. Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, Rep. Dan Benishek of Michigan, Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Rep. Scott Rigell of Virginia, Rep. Rob Woodall of Georgia, Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas, Rep. John Duncan of Tennessee, Rep. David Valadao of California, Rep. Harold Rogers of Kentucky, Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado, Rep. Maxine Waters of California, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona, Rep. Ralph Hall of Texas, Rep. John Sullivan of Oklahoma, Rep. David Valadao of California, Rep. David Valadao of California, Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee, Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Rep. Ron DeSantis of Florida, Rep. Larry Bucshon of Indiana, Rep. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Rep. Jeff Denham of California, Rep. Darrell Issa of California, Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South