Republican Senator Bob Corker will not seek re-election next year

Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said on Tuesday he will not seek re-election next year.

"After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year, Elizabeth and I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018," Corker said in a statement.

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh)