Congressman Ted Yoho has announced plans to retire from Congress.
Yoho represents Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Marion, Alachua, Union, Putnam and Clay counties. He pulled an upset of sorts in November 2012 when he beat out long-term incumbent Cliff Stearns in the 2012 Republican Primary Election. The veterinarian and small business owner then won the General Election and has served since 2013. He was elected for his fourth term in November 2018 after beating Democrat Yvonne Hayes Hinson.
The 64-year-old Yoho made the announcement on his Facebook page on Tuesday. He said he won’t seek re-election at the end of the Congressional session in January 2021.
“It has been an amazing opportunity to be able to serve the best district in Florida – District 3,” he said. “The people make it the best place and you are the reason it was such an honor to be your Representative in the United States Congress.”
Yoho called his time in Congress an “incredible journey” and suggested it’s time for new blood in District 3.
“Our Nation is the best on the planet and as time passes, new ideas need to be instilled to preserve the Republic we’ve been blessed with,” he wrote.
Yoho, who was born in Minnesota, married his wife Carolyn when he was 19 years old. They have three children – Katie, Lauren, and Tyler.