State Rep. Terence Everitt, who represents northwest Wake County in the North Carolina House of Representatives, won't run for reelection, he said Tuesday.
Everitt, a Democrat in his third term, said he wants to spend more time with his children who "hardly remember a time when I was not a politician."
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"They're growing up, and I want to take a moment before they start leaving me," he said.
Everitt's decision creates an open seat in House District 35, a key district in next year's elections. The seat is one of a handful of toss up districts that can be won by a Republican or a Democrat, and it will likely help determine whether Republicans maintain their supermajority in the House, and thus the ability to overturn a governor's vetoes without relying on Democratic votes.
Democrat Evonne Hopkins, a Raleigh attorney, is now seeking the seat. Everitt has endorsed her. Republican attorney Mike Schietzelt is also running for the seat, and there's a Libertarian in the race: Michael Oakes. The candidacy filing deadline is Friday.
Everitt made headlines this year when he publicly called on Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman to investigate Speaker of the House Tim Moore over Moore's affair with a state employee. Freeman, who had already said there was no basis for a criminal investigation, declined. Moore, who is now running for Congress, responded by moving Everitt out of his office at the General Assembly and into a supply closet.
"That was one of the best weeks of my life," Everitt said with a laugh Tuesday.
Everitt said it has been an honor to serve in the House, and that he may return to elected life in the future.
"I just need to be a dad for a while," he said.