DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa legislator who dropped his Republican affiliation after comments by then-candidate Donald Trump has decided not to seek re-election.
Sen. David Johnson of Ocheyedan announced Thursday he won’t run in his northwest Iowa district.

The 67-year-old didn’t explain his decision but noted in a statement that the political process had become more polarizing and partisan. Johnson, a lifelong Republican who served two terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2002, dropped his affiliation in 2016 after Trump made comments about a federal judge of Mexican heritage.

Johnson began voting as a no-party affiliated senator. That led Republicans, who took control of the Senate after the 2016 election, to remove Johnson from committees.
Three Republicans and no Democrats are running in Tuesday’s primary for Johnson’s seat.