Democrat Rep. G.K. Butterfield Retiring From House

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) speaks at a press event following the House of Representatives vote on H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 24, 2021. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) announced his retirement Thursday morning, adding another blow to Democrats’ efforts to maintain their majority in the House in the 2022 midterm elections.

Butterfield, 74, has served Congress for 18 years. He was the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2015 to 2017. Currently, he’s the Chair of the Subcommittee on Elections.