Updated 5:49 p.m. | Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., will not seek a seventh term, according to an interview he gave The Monroe News-Star on Tuesday.

“I’ve represented the best people in the world; it’s been a privilege and I’ve enjoyed it,” Alexander told the paper. “But I never wanted to be in Washington all my life.”

Northern Louisiana’s 5th District is safe Republican territory, so it is unlikely this seat will flip party hands anytime soon.

Alexander is the third House member to announce retirement this Congress. He joins Reps. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and John Campbell, R-Calif. (To see a full list of members who have announced plans to leave Congress, see Roll Call’s Casualty List.)

Alexander was first elected to Congress in 2002 as a Democrat. He switched parties in 2004.

Update 5:49 p.m.

“There’ll be a big announcement coming tomorrow from state Sen. Neil Riser,” a Louisiana Republican operative told CQ Roll Call. The source added that Riser has the capacity to clear the GOP field.