Rep. Darrell Issa announced Wednesday he plans to retire at the end of his term.
Issa has represented California's 49th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001.
But the Republican barely won re-election in 2016, beating his Democratic opponent by less than 1 percentage point.
Issa choosing not to run for re-election this year could make it easier for a Democrat to gain control of the seat. Politico notes four "well-funded Democratic challengers" have already thrown their hats into the race.
Issa's announcement comes just days after Rep. Ed Royce announced he will also not seek re-election this year. Royce is a fellow Republican from the Golden State.
Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.
