Peterson To Retire

Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.) will be announcing today that he will be stepping down from Congress at the end of his term.

“It’s been ten years and he’s had enough,” said Peterson’s district representative, who added that the 69-year-old congressman was in good health and that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Peterson is the 18th House Republican to announce his retirement this election cycle.

Peterson has represented his sprawling, north-central Pennsylvania district since 1996. The district is heavily Republican, giving President Bush 61 percent of the vote in 2004.

The seat is favored to remain in Republican hands, as Peterson has never faced any serious Democratic opposition since first elected.