Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California said today that she will retire from Congress and doesn’t plan on running again in November 2016.
Boxer explained her decision in a video on her website, which was recorded as an interview between herself and her grandson Zach. In it, she explains that her age - 74 - was not a factor in her decision and neither was Congress’ inability to get things done.
“Some people are old at 40 and some people are young at 80. It depends on the person. As for me, I feel as young as I did when I was elected. I was in my 50s when I got elected to the Senate,” she said.
Boxer added, “I am never going to retire. The work is too important. But I will not be running for the Senate in 2016. I’m going to continue working on the issues I love.”
The progressive was the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee while Democrats were the majority in the Senate, notes The Los Angeles Times. While climate change was her major issue, she will leave the Senate without getting legislation on the issue passed, even while Democrats controlled Congress and the White House. She did famously start a three-day filibuster in 1994 to try to stop the Republicans from cutting back on environmental laws.
As Reuters notes, Boxer said she will continue to support Democratic candidates using her PAC For Change. She has been in the Senate since 1993.
image courtesy of INFevents.com