Bill Young, Who Served in Congress Since 1970, to Retire After 2014

U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in 2014. Young made the announcement in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

First elected to Congress in 1970, Young has been on the Florida political stage since 1960 when he was elected to the Florida Senate. During the 1960s, Young moved up the ranks to serve as Senate minority leader before winning a seat in Congress. From 1999 until 2005, Young chaired the House Appropriations Committee.

Young showed a knack for doing well in elections but in 2012 Democrat Jessica Ehrlich held him under 60 percent for the first time since 1992. Ehrlich is already running again for 2014 and Democrats are expected to make the seat a major target now that Young is bowing out.