Endangered California Republican Darrell Issa announces his retirement

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), one of the most endangered House Republicans heading into the 2018 midterm elections, has announced his plans to retire at the end of his current term.

"Throughout my service, I worked hard and never lost sight of the people our government is supposed to serve," Issa announced on Wednesday. "Yet with the support of my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in California's 49th District."

News of Issa's retirement was first broke by local news source OC Daily and has been subsequently confirmed by Fox News.

Although Issa represents what has long been a solid Republican district, he barely won reelection in 2016 after his district voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton by nine points.

Democrat Doug Applegate, a retired Marine Colonel who narrowly lost to Issa in 2016, is expected to run for the district's seat this year, as is Orange County Democratic Party executive director Mike Levin.

Read Issa's full statement below.