U.S. Congress

Jeff Flake

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake announced Tuesday that he’d had enough, and will not seek re-election next year.

The news caught many people off guard, but it wasn’t a complete shock to some, including Nathan Gonzales. He’s the editor and publisher of Inside Elections.

A few weeks ago, Gonzalez said he’d been hearing rumblings that Flake may not run for a second term.

Closer to home, Republicans who’ve known Flake for years were also taken aback by the senator’s decision, including Stan Barnes of Copperstate Consulting. Barnes challenged Flake for a U.S. House seat in 2004.

Chad Willems of Summit Consulting Group in Phoenix, who worked with Flake, was disappointed by the news.