Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, will not seek re-election in 2014.
‘Deciding not to run for re-election was an extremely difficult decision,’ said Baucus in a statement issued by his office. ‘After thinking long and hard, I decided I want to focus the next year and a half on serving Montana unconstrained by the demands of a campaign. Then, I want to come home and spend time with Mel, my son Zeno, and our family, enjoying the Montana public lands we've fought hard to keep open and untarnished.’
The 72-year-old Baucus has served six terms in the Senate. He is the eighth senator to announce a retirement at the end of this congressional session. Also leaving the Senate are five Democrats, including Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson of South Dakota, and two Republicans.