Updated: 12:07 p.m.

Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) announced his retirement Thursday morning in a speech to the state Legislature in Jefferson City.

“In 1972, I became Missouri’s youngest governor. Ladies and gentlemen, I do not aspire to become Missouri’s oldest Senator,” said Bond, who will turn 70 in March.

As of 10:30 a.m., Bond had not alerted National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) that he was going to retire, and communications staff from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office (R-Ky.) did not return an immediate request for comment.

Given recent political trends, an open Senate seat in Missouri could be a good pickup opportunity for Democrats. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is expected to run for the Democratic nomination. Possible GOP candidates include Reps. Roy Blunt and Sam Graves.