Rep Boren not returning to Congress

U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, Oklahoma's only Democrat in Congress and a member of one of the state's multigenerational political dynasties, announced today that he will not seek re-election to his 2nd Congressional District seat at a news conference in Muskogee.

Boren's prepared statement said, "This is not an easy decision for me.  It was based on the demands of constant campaigning, and most importantly spending too much time away from my family which includes two very young children."

Boren, the son of University of Oklahoma President and former governor and U.S. Sen. David Boren, was first elected to Congress in 2004. His late grandfather, Lyle Boren, also served in Congress several decades ago.

As the only state Democrat to hold elective office at the federal level, Boren was viewed by many as a likely candidate for statewide office, possibly a U.S. Senate seat or governor some day. Boren was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 and last year re-elected to his fourth term.

Click here to read a 2010 Tulsa Today interview with Rep. Boren.