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Rep. Niki Tsongas Won't Run For Re-Election

BOSTON (CBS) – Massachusetts Congresswoman Niki Tsongas will not run for re-election next year.

Tsongas, a Democrat from Lowell, issued a statement on her decision Wednesday morning.

"I have learned in life that there is a time for endings and for new beginnings. After much thought, I have decided that this is one of those times," she said.

"The time feels right most especially because of my desire to spend more time enjoying and celebrating my wonderful and growing family."

Niki Tsongas
Rep. Niki Tsongas. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

She was elected ten years ago after Marty Meehan left Congress to become chancellor of UMass-Lowell.

Her late husband, Paul Tsongas, was a Congressman in the 1970's. He was later elected to the U.S. Senate and ran for president in 1992.

"I look forward to finishing out my term, and over the next year and a half, I will dedicate each day to improving the quality of the lives of my fellow residents and the lives of countless people like them across our Commonwealth and nation," she said.

So who might run to succeed Tsongas?

Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh said look out for state senators Eileen Donoghue of Lowell and Jamie Eldridge from Acton.

"Both of whom have run for this seat before. Eileen Donoghue almost beat Niki Tsongas in that special election the first time. So I expect both of them to take a long hard look at this," Marsh told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

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