Fairfax Democrat not seeking House re-election

Democrat Kristen Amundsen is retiring from the House of Delegates.

The delegate from Fairfax County told The Associated Press on Wednesday she is not seeking re-election to a sixth term to focus on her business.

Amundsen said financial conditions made it necessary to spend more time focusing on her job as a writer.

She said, “campaigning is a full-time job and I just made the difficult decision not to run. I just decided to focus on my business.“

Amundsen, from Mount Vernon, was elected 10 years ago.

Her departure leaves the Democratic Party to find another candidate quickly to contend with Republican James E. “Jay” McConville and independent Gail Parker in northern Virginia’s 44th District.