Congresswoman Niki Tsongas is not seeking reelection to her third district seat next year.
The Lowell Democrat made the announcement yesterday.
Tsongas says that at age 71, it's time to retire from public life and spend more time with family.
She was first elected to the seat when Marty Meehan decided not to run in the 2006 election.
(BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)