Rep. Ed Perlmutter Announces He Won't Run For Reelection

(CBS4) - Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat who represents Colorado's 7th Congressional District, will not be running for reelection. The 7th District covers much of the western part of the Denver metro area.

In a tweet, Perlmutter says "it's been a privilege and honor of a lifetime to serve Colorado, the state I love and have always called home."

Perlmutter has served in some elected capacity for 25 years and represented the Denver in Congress for 8 terms. He was elected during the Democratic wave in 2006 and his retirement is yet another signal that his party faces a tough election this year.

Perlmutter's competitive seat was made slightly more Republican by Colorado's Independent Redistricting Commission last year. He is a perennial target for the GOP but has easily fought off challenges. Democrats were confident they could hold the seat. Now it is a far tougher task for them.

"Ed Perlmutter has always been our neighbor and our strong voice in Washington for our community. Ed is not only one of the finest public servants that has ever served our state but I am proud to call him my friend. We will miss his spirit and energy in D.C. on issues that matter to Coloradans like saving people money and moving our state forward," said Gov. Jared Polis in a statement.

Perlmutter becomes the 26th House Democrat to announce they won't seek reelection.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)