GOP Rep. Ed Royce Retiring, Leaving Swing Seat

ORANGE COUNTY, CA -- Republican Rep. Ed Royce announced on Monday that he will not seek reelection after serving in the House since 1993. Royce, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, leaves the seat open as Democrats work to flip Congress.

In a statement released to the media, Royce said it's an "honor to represent the people of California's 39th Congressional District." The district flipped in the most 2016 presidential election with the majority supporting candidate Hillary Clinton.

"Every day, it's my mission to fight for freedom, opportunity and a limited government. In recent years, we've made a real difference," said Royce, whose district includes Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. "In this final year of my Foreign Affairs Committee chairmanship, I want to focus fully on the urgent threats facing our nation, including: the brutal, corrupt and dangerous regimes in Pyongyang and Tehran, Vladimir Putin's continued efforts to weaponize information to fracture western democracies, and growing terrorist threats in Africa and Central Asia. With this in mind, and with the support of my wife Marie, I have decided not to seek reelection in November."

"I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the people of the 39th District for entrusting me with the responsibility to represent them. Our district is blessed to be diverse, and I've been successful in part because of my great staff and the relationships we've built with families, businesses and leaders in each of our communities. "

Royce has long been a power player in Southern California politics. His position as the chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, has afforded him considerable influence over the country’s foreign policy.

After serving 13 years in Congress, winning easily in his heavily Republican districts, Royce could have fought the biggest fight of his career in November.

This month, the Los Angeles Times named him one of the most vulnerable Republicans in what is expected to be a wave midterm election that could flip the house.

In many ways, he’s been the victim of California’s changing demographics. Each election cycle, his district has seen a growing population of Demograts, culminating in 2016 when Clinton won his district by 9 percentage points, the Times reported.

Last year Royce's office was the target of an Affordable Healthcare Act Rally. In his district, over 95,000 Southern California residents receive direct financial assistance from the Affordable Care Act.

Also on Monday, President Donald Trump formally nominated Marie Royce to be assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs.

--Photo: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., pauses during a hearing on Iran before the House Foreign Affairs Committee at Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)