WASHINGTON (WATE) – U.S. Senator Bob Corker announced Tuesday he will not run for reelection.

“After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year, Elizabeth and I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018,” Corker said in a statement.

Corker says when he first ran in 2006 he told people he couldn’t see himself serving for more than two terms and also believes his most important work could still happen in his final months in Washington.

Conservative activist Andy Ogles officially announced earlier this month he would be running for Corker’s seat. State Senator Mark Green says he is “strongly considering it.”

Former state representative Joe Carr says he’s started a political action committee to defeat Corker, but he won’t say yet if he’s running. Nashville businessman Larry Crim says he is also in the race.

Full Statement:

Corker Statement on Future Plans

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement.

“After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year, Elizabeth and I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018.

“When I ran for the Senate in 2006, I told people that I couldn’t imagine serving for more than two terms. Understandably, as we have gained influence, that decision has become more difficult. But I have always been drawn to the citizen legislator model, and while I realize it is not for everyone, I believe with the kind of service I provide, it is the right one for me.

“I also believe the most important public service I have to offer our country could well occur over the next 15 months, and I want to be able to do that as thoughtfully and independently as I did the first 10 years and nine months of my Senate career.

“Serving the people of Tennessee in this capacity has been the greatest privilege of my life. And as I spent the month of August traveling across our great state, I was reminded that we live in a unique place full of people who care deeply about the direction of our country.

“I am grateful to the people of Tennessee for the opportunity to serve my state and country. I have been fortunate to do so with an extraordinary staff, and I want to thank them for their incredible dedication. I know that we will continue to have an impact for the remainder of our term, and I look forward to finding other ways to make a difference in the future.

“Finally, I want to thank my wife, Elizabeth, and our family, who have made many sacrifices in allowing me to serve. Nothing I have done would have been possible without their love and support.”