“It is time for me to retire, and allow the torch to be passed to someone who shares the values of the district, and continue the work I have labored so hard for the past 18 years,” Butterfield said in a video announcement posted on Twitter.
“The map that was recently enacted by the legislature is a partisan map. It’s racially gerrymandered. It will disadvantage African American communities all across the 1st congressional district. I am disappointed, terribly disappointed with the Republican majority legislature for again gerrymandering our state’s congressional districts and putting their party politics over the best interests of North Carolinians,” Butterfield said.
“While I am hopeful that the courts will ultimately overturn this partisan map, and see that a fair map is enacted, I have made the difficult decision that I will not seek reelection to the United States House of Representatives.”
A former judge and North Carolina Supreme Court justice, Butterfield first came to Congress by winning a 2004 special election after former US Rep. Frank Ballance left office citing health reasons. Butterfield has represented North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District since then.
He serves as House Democrats’ senior chief deputy whip and sits on the Energy and Commerce and House Administration committees.
Butterfield is also a leader in the Congressional Black Caucus and served as its chairman in 2015 and 2016.
Source : CNN