Davis Announces Retirement

By Jessica Taylor  //  December 15, 2011 | 7:19 p.m.

Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky., announced Thursday evening he would not seek reelection in 2012, becoming the first Republican this cycle to retire outright rather than seek higher office.

"In order to devote more time to my family, I have decided not to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives," Davis said in a statement. "I am grateful that I live in a country where a boy like me, growing up with little hope, could walk a path by God's grace that has allowed me to encounter His peace, the joy of true love, and service at the highest levels of our elected national government. Truly, we are blessed in this Republic."

In his fourth term, the 53-year-old Davis was elected in 2004 in closely-watched open seat contest that pitted him against Democrat Nick Clooney, a local columnist and commentator and the father of actor George Clooney. He won the seat by 10 points, and had been reelected easily since. He serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, where he is chairman of the Human Resources subcommittee.

In a statement, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions thanked Davis for his service, including his work with the House GOP's campaign arm. "As an NRCC Regional Chair for the 2010 and 2012 cycles, Geoff played an important role in helping us win back the Republican Majority to retire Nancy Pelosi as Speaker," said Sessions. "Geoff is a dear friend, and I greatly appreciate his hard work and will to win for Republican solutions for America." Republicans are expected to easily hold onto the solidly Republican Northern Kentucky district, where Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took 60 percent of the vote in 2008. Early potential successors, according to a Kentucky GOP operative, could include 4th District GOP chairwoman and state Rep. Alecia Webb-Edington and state Sen. Damon Thayer.

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