Longtime California Democrat Grace Napolitano to retire from Congress

Rep. Grace Napolitano, a longtime California Democrat, announced her plans to retire from Congress at the end of this term. 

"I am incredibly grateful for the people of the San Gabriel Valley and the people of Southeastern Los Angeles County for the trust they have bestowed in me to represent them for a quarter century," she said Saturday when she announced her retirement. 

Napolitano announced her retirement at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a Nature Education Center in her honor in La Puente, Calif., according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

In her speech Saturday, she highlighted her accomplishments during her time in office, including how she was the founder and co-chair of the House Mental Health Caucus. 

Napolitano is the oldest member of the House at the age of 86. She is originally from Texas but is now serving her 13th term in the House, according to CNN. 

Her district is unlikely to be competitive for Republicans in the 2024 election.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.