Representative Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat whose brokering of anti-abortion provisions in US president Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul drew fire from both liberals and conservatives, said today he will not seek re-election.
Mr Stupak, who said he had considered retiring over the past several election cycles, said he told Democratic leaders and key supporters last night and early today he would not seek re-election.
The 18-year veteran of the House of Representatives said he was committed to the Democratic Party retaining his seat and believed by announcing his decision now potential successors would have time to prepare for the election.
"My service to the people of Michigan has been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it is time to begin a new and exciting chapter," Mr Stupak (58), said in a news conference at Northern Michigan University.
During the healthcare debate, Mr Stupak led a coalition of anti-abortion Democrats that threatened to kill the bill because of concerns it would allow taxpayer money to finance abortions. That angered healthcare reform supporters and abortion-rights advocates who saw it as an effort to expand federal restrictions against abortion.
Mr Stupak settled for an executive order stating that no federal funding for abortion would be provided and ended up voting in favor of the healthcare bill. Anti-abortions groups were outraged and he became a target for the conservative Tea Party movement which sponsored radio and television ads to defeat him in the November congressional elections.
Mr Stupak told The Hill newspaper a week before the bill's passage that fighting the measure had been "a living hell" and that obscene calls to his home had forced his wife to unplug the phones.
His decision opens up a seat for Republicans to potentially pick up in the November mid-term congressional elections in the Democratic-led House, political analysts said.
Despite the furore over his stance in the healthcare debate, Mr Stupak was seen as likely to win the Democratic primary against a pro-choice challenger and his re-election bid in November.
The Tea Party Express, which had announced an advertising campaign to defeat Mr Stupak, was quick to claim victory putting out a press release headlined "Stupak Drinks the Tea".
Reuters