Congressman Peter King, who has represented his Long Island congressional district for almost 30 years has announced that we will retire and not seek re-election in 2020.

King, 75, is a 14-term congressman who was first elected to New York’s 2nd district in 1992. His vacant seat leaves Democrats with an opportunity to gain a competitive seat in the House as they look to defend -– and possibly increase -– their majority in 2020.

King announced his retirement in a Facebook post saying that “this was not an easy decision.”

“The prime reason for my decision,” King said, “was that after 28 years of spending 4 days a week in Washington, D.C., it is time to end the weekly commute and be home in Seaford.

“Politically, I will miss the energy and dynamism of a re-election campaign especially since my polling numbers are as strong as they have ever been and I have more than $1 million in campaign funds,” he said. “Governmentally, I will miss fighting for the people of my district and America and will always be proud of my efforts for 9/11 victims and their families; protecting our citizens from terrorism and MS-13; leading the successful effort to recover from Superstorm Sandy; being consistently cited for bipartisanship; working with President Clinton to achieve the Good Friday Agreement and end centuries of warfare in Ireland and Northern Ireland; and standing with the brave men and women of law Enforcement.”

King’s district has become more competitive in recent years. He won re-election in 2018 by only 6 percentage points after winning by 17 percentage points 2 years earlier. Donald Trump won the district by 9 points in 2016 but President Barack Obama won the district in 2012 and 2008.