Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., announced Friday that he will not seek reelection and plans to leave Congress at the end of his current term, closing out a career that spans more than 25 years in the House.

Graves, 62, said he made the decision earlier this week after filing for reelection in Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, explaining that he is ready to move on to the next phase of his career. First elected in 2000, he will depart after serving 13 terms.

His retirement adds to a growing number of House lawmakers opting not to run this cycle again, with more than 50 members already stepping aside or pursuing other offices.

Graves’ exit is expected to trigger a competitive Republican primary in his reliably red northern Missouri district, where multiple GOP candidates had already entered the race. He won reelection in 2024 with roughly 70% of the vote.

The Missouri Republican said his decision was not driven by political pressures, redistricting concerns, or uncertainty about reelection prospects. Instead, he pointed to a desire to transition out of public office and potentially into the private sector, where he could advise businesses navigating the legislative process.

Graves has served as the top Republican on the House Transportation Committee since 2019 and received a waiver to continue in the role despite GOP term limits for committee chairs. His departure will leave a key leadership vacancy, with Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., viewed as a leading contender to succeed him.

Before leaving office, Graves said he intends to focus on advancing a major surface transportation reauthorization bill ahead of a September deadline. He has also supported legislation aimed at improving aviation safety and modernizing the nation’s air traffic control system, citing last year’s FAA reauthorization as one of his signature achievements.