Lakeland Congressman Dennis Ross says he's calling it a day.
The four-term Republican said Wednesday that he was not going to seek a fifth term in his district, but was going to go for a change in careers.
Ross, who represents a secure Republican district, said he was convinced that there was a deep bench of talent and he expected plenty of qualified candidates to come forward in the election.
"Then if we have a primary for it, so be it, that's the process," he said. "We just need to rally around who our nominee is going to be and make sure that they succeed me and continue to represent this district very well."
Ross said he never planned to make politics his sole career, and said he was hopeful that he could turn his talents toward teaching political science in a college level.