The powerful chairman of the House Armed Services Committee will retire at the end of his term.
Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., announced at a Thursday morning press conference that he will not run for re-election in 2014.
He will have served for 11 terms.
McKeon's retirement leaves open a seat that is "absolutely competitive," according to a Democratic aide. The aide noted that President Obama won McKeon's district in 2008, and got 48 percent of the vote in 2012.
NBC
District in question is CA-25, which covers Antelope Valley and runs up behind the east side of the Sierra Nevada range. This includes Edwards AFB and therefore a lot of associated MIC workers.