Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), the only African American Republican congressman, has a district that stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, covering one-quarter of the U.S.-Mexico border.
It is a swing district necessary for Republicans to hold if they are to reclaim their majority next year.
But Hurd announced late last night he would not seek reelection.
Per The Hill:
I have made the decision to not seek reelection for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas in order to pursue opportunities outside the halls of Congress to solve problems at the nexus between technology and national security. https://t.co/GeZ4Hh264f
— Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) August 2, 2019
Hurd’s abrupt decision to not seek reelection comes amid a period of flux inside the Republican Party. He becomes the sixth GOP lawmaker and third House Republican from Texas to announce his retirement in the past two weeks.
Mike Conaway, another GOP lawmaker from Texas, announced Wednesday that he would not seek reelection. Pete Olson also announced his retirement last month.
Hurd said in a statement that he left a job in the CIA to run for Congress in 2014 to help give the lower chamber leadership in areas related to intelligence and national security.
“While Congress has a role in these issues, so does the private sector and civil society,” he said. “After reflecting on how best to help our country address these challenges, I’m leaving the House of Representatives to help our country in a different way.”