Rep. Tim Sanders will not seek another term

Rep. Tim Sanders (R-Blaine) announced Thursday that he will not run for re-election.

Rep. Tim Sanders

“After four terms in the legislature, my wife Farrah and I agree that it’s time to retire from the House,” Sanders said in a statement. “The timing is just right for our family, and it will allow me to spend more time with our kids.”

Sanders currently serves as assistant majority leader and chair of the House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the following House committees: Commerce and Regulatory Reform, Rules and Legislative Administration, and Transportation Policy and Finance.

“It has been a true honor to serve the community of Blaine in the Minnesota House,” Sanders said. “I have met so many great people from our area during my time in the legislature, and I would like to thank everyone for their support throughout the past eight years.”

Sanders is the third House Republican to announce he won’t seek re-election. Others are Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing) and Rep. Mark Anderson (R-Lake Shore). Four DFLers have announced they won’t return to the House in 2017: Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights), Rep. Carly Melin (DFL-Hibbing) and Rep. Kim Norton (DFL-Rochester) are not seeking re-election; Rep. Erik Simonson (DFL-Duluth) is seeking a Senate seat.