California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer Won’t Seek Re-Election

Retirement Could Mean Fierce Competition for Senate Seat.

Veteran Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California said Thursday she won’t run for re-election in 2016.

Ms. Boxer, a vocal liberal presence in the Senate since 1993, announced her plans to leave the Senate in a video interview with her grandson posted Thursday.

“I am never going to retire—the work is too important, but I will not be running for the Senate in 2016,” Ms. Boxer said.

The top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Ms. Boxer has focused on protecting the environment, highlighting liberal concerns over climate change and resisting GOP attempts to limit when women can choose to have abortions, among other legislative priorities.

Ms. Boxer’s retirement opens the door to a fierce competition for a Senate seat in a state that has seen no turnover for more than two decades. Fellow California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was elected to her seat in 1992.

Potential candidates to seek her Senate seat include former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, the state’s Lieutenant Gov. Gavin Newsom and California GOP Reps. Darrell Issa and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

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