Long-term top Democrat Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) has announced he is retiring and will not seek reelection in 2024.
“Some 59 years have passed since I first raised my hand as a 17-year-old naval midshipman, and P3 mission aircraft commander,” Carper said at a press conference on Monday.
Carper continued by rehashing his political and military careers during the presser.
He explained that his final 20 months in office would be a “sprint,” while name-checking environmental and tax policies he would push for in his year-and-two-thirds in office.
Carper has held elected office since 1977 when he became Delaware state treasurer.
He has won 14 statewide elections without a loss.
The senator served in the House of Representatives from 1983-1993 and was governor of the state for two terms.
Carper also served three tours in Vietnam as a National Aviation Officer.
He is also the last veteran of the Vietnam War currently serving in the Senate.
“If I ran