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Longtime Democratic Rep. Capps announces plans to retire

FILE - In a Sept. 15, 2011 file photo, Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Capps, who has served in Congress since 1998, says she will not seek another term. In a statement, Capps said it was time for her to return to the California community and family that she loves so much. Capps has represented a central California district. She had succeeded her late husband Walter in the House seat. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) FILE - In a Sept. 15, 2011 file photo, Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Capps, who has served in Congress since 1998, says she will not seek another term. In a statement, Capps said it was time for her to return to the California community and family that she loves so much. Capps has represented a central California district. She had succeeded her late husband Walter in the House seat. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

By Associated Press April 8, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic Rep. Lois Capps, who’s served in Congress since 1998, says she won’t seek another term.

Capps says in a statement that it’s time for her to return to the California community and family that she loves so much.

Capps – who’s a nurse – has represented a central California district. She had succeeded her late husband, Walter, in the House seat.

The 77-year-old Capps has served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee – and specifically the Health, Energy and Power, and Environment and the Economy subcommittees.

Capps’ district is considered competitive and will be a prime target for Republicans and Democrats in 2016.