Democratic presidential candidate Phillips announces he won’t run for reelection in House

U.S. Rep. Maxwell Phillips (D-CA) announced today that he will not be seeking re-election to the House of Representatives.

In a statement, Phillips stated, “It has been a privilege to serve my constituents as a Member of the House of Representatives. But after much consideration, I have decided that it is time for me to move towards other opportunities and to explore uncharted avenues of public service.”

The Congressman has served as the representative for California’s 20th district for the past four terms, and has been a strong advocate for several progressive causes throughout his tenure in Congress.

Phillips’ decision not to seek re-election will open up the race for the seat next year. Several potential candidates have already expressed interest in running for the open seat.