U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota said Thursday that she won’t seek reelection, dealing a blow to her fellow Democrats’ hopes of retaking the Senate in 2026.

Smith made the announcement on a video posted to social media. The 66-year-old said she wants to spend more time with her family after 20 years of work in the public sector.

�This decision is not political. It is entirely personal,� Smith said. �But it�s not lost on me that our country is in need of strong, progressive leadership right now, maybe more than ever.�

Smith said she plans to use the two years left in her term working to represent Minnesota’s interests in the Senate without having to worry about running for reelection.

�We have a deep bench of political talent in Minnesota, a group of leaders that are more than ready to pick up the work and carry us forward,” she said. “And I�m excited to make room for them to move forward.�

(AP)