U.S. Rep. Steve Austria (R-Ohio.) announced Friday that he will not seek re-election for 2012, citing the redistricting of his congressional district which would pit him against fellow Republican Rep. Mike Turner.
“I am not going to run for Congress next term as a result of the redistricting map,” said Mr. Austria Friday, in a statement obtained by POLITICO.
Mr. Austria’s current district will be broken up into three different districts. Part of his current district will also be represented by House Speaker John Boehner.
“I share the same anger and frustration as the residents and voters of our region about the loss of the 7th Congressional District, but I want to thank each and every one of the eight counties in the current district for the honor of representing them,” said Mr. Austria.
Due to the redistricting and the popularity of Mr. Turner, Mr. Austria would have likely had a tough chance at being re-elected.
Mr. Austria was elected to the House in 2009, his term will end at the beginning of 2013. Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Ohio Republican served in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate.
U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio.) has already announced that he will run for re-election in the 15th district. Thus far, the Athens City law director Pat Lang is the only candidate to announce that he will run in Ohio’s 15th district as a Democrat. The deadline to declare for the election was Friday December 30th at 4 p.m.
Mr. Austria has not announced any other career plans moving forward.
