U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois)—one of the most prominent critics of former President Donald Trump in the House Republican Conference—announced in a video Oct. 29 that he will not seek re-election, Politico reported.
However, he stated, “I want to make clear: This isn’t the end of my political future, but the beginning.”
Kinzinger is one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach the then-president in January after the riot at the Capitol. His announcement marks the second member of that group to say he will retire from Congress, joining Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio.
The announcement came just hours after the Illinois state legislature passed a new congressional map that drew Kinzinger into the same district with another GOP incumbent, Rep. Darin LaHood—a Trump ally. Kinzinger, who is friendly with LaHood, faced uphill odds for returning to Congress after he spent much of his last few years criticizing the president.
Trump was quick to celebrate the news in a statement emailed to reporters: “2 down, 8 to go!” he wrote. Far-right conservatives also hailed the decision.