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Florida Rep. Dennis Ross Retiring After 8 Years

Republican lawmaker says he felt like stranger in his hometown

Rep. Dennis A. Ross, R-Fla., will retire at the end of his term, he announced Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Dennis A. Ross, R-Fla., will retire at the end of his term, he announced Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Rep. Dennis A. Ross announced Wednesday he will retire at the end of his current term.

“It has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime to serve my community as a Member of Congress and I am grateful for the encouragement and input of family, friends, and neighbors over the years,” the Florida Republican said in a statement.

“After thoughtful prayer and consideration, my wife Cindy and I decided that I will not seek re-election for a fifth-term in office. … I look forward to the next chapter of my life which will include, in some way, continued public service,” he said.

A former state lawmaker, Ross was first elected from Florida’s 12th District in 2010.

After redistricting the following cycle, he opted to run in the 15th District, which he has represented since 2013. 

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales is leaving the race rating as Solid Republican. President Donald Trump carried the district, which includes Tampa’s eastern suburbs, by 10 points in 2016.

Ross, a senior deputy majority whip, is the 28th GOP lawmaker — and the 25th in the House — to decide against re-election this year and not seek another office.

In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, he said that after eight years in Washington, he had begun to feel like “stranger in [his] hometown.”

“There’s got to be an exit strategy at some point,” he said.

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