Rep. Bachmann looks forward to 'limitless' future, but not in the House
Updated Wednesday 5/29 at 10:30 a.m. ET
(CNN) - U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, a conservative firebrand whose bid for president last year ended after the Iowa caucuses, will not seek re-election to her Minnesota congressional seat in 2014.
Making her announcement in a video posted to her campaign website early Wednesday, Bachmann stressed she had no plans to fade from public view.
"Looking forward, after the completion of my term, my future is full, it is limitless, and my passions for America will remain," she announced.
Bachmann, who's in her fourth term representing Minnesota's 6th District, promised that there "is no future option or opportunity" that she "won't be giving serious consideration if it can help save and protect our great nation for future generations."
Bachmann staved off a tougher-than-expected challenge for her seat last November against Democrat Jim Graves, winning re-election by just under 5,000 votes. Graves has announced he will seek the seat again in 2014.
In her video announcement, Bachmann said her decision was not influenced by any concerns about winning reelection.
"I've always, in the past, defeated candidates who were capable, qualified, and well-funded. And I have every confidence that if I ran, I would again defeat the individual who I defeated last year, who recently announced that he is once again running," Bachmann said.
Nor was her decision based on any concerns over an ongoing congressional ethics inquiry into the improper transfer of campaign funds, Bachmann said in her video. She is also facing a Federal Election Commission complaint about her former presidential campaign.
"This decision was not impacted in any way by the recent inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff," she said. "It was clearly understood that compliance with all rules and regulations was an absolute necessity for my presidential campaign. And I have no reason to believe that that was not the case."
Bachmann's run for president in 2012 reached its peak in August 2011, when she beat out a slate of other candidates to win the Ames Straw Poll in the early voting state of Iowa, where she was born. Her campaign lost steam in the fall to other conservative candidates like Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, and she eventually placed sixth in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses. She ended her presidential bid the next day.
In the eight-minute long video, Bachmann, an early supporter of the Tea Party movement, touted her work on a variety of conservative issues, promising to "to work vehemently and robustly to fight back against what most in the other party want to do to transform our country into becoming, which would be a nation that our founders would hardly even recognize today."
Bachmann was one of the leading supporters of the emerging tea party movement in 2010, founding the "tea party caucus" in the House of Representatives and delivering her own "tea party response" to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Most recently she organized a tea party rally on Capitol Hill protesting the Internal Revenue Service's admitted targeting of conservative groups applying for tax exempt status.
In her video, she said she wouldn't let up on the causes she championed as a U.S. representative.
"I promise you I have and I will continue to fight to protect innocent human life, traditional marriage, family values, religious liberty, and academic excellence," Bachmann said.
In a polite statement, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Greg Walden wrote Bachmann "has been a tireless advocate and dedicated Representative for the people of Minnesota’s Sixth District."
"Michele was the first Republican woman elected to represent Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives, and she has worked hard each day to ensure that her constituents’ voices are heard in the halls of Congress," he continued.
Democrats were less laudatory - the House Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats to Congress, wrote Bachmann's decision was "good news for the people of Minnesota and our nation."
"Bachmann voluntarily removing herself from Congress is a victory we can all celebrate today," the group's executive director Alixandria Lapp wrote.
CNN's Kevin Liptak and Martina Stewart contributed to this report.
Good riddance to rubbish
This actually makes me so happy
You can only dip a tea bag so many times..........
I would love to see her go against Franken. He'd crush her. The sheer restraint would be so bad that Biden vs. Palin will look like hardball. Franken's biggest problem would be not going so hard that she'd get a sympathy vote.
Happy as I am to see this witch leave office, I am worried what new wingnut her district will elect to office in her place. Electing a rational candidate like Jim Graves is too sane a choice for MN-6 district.
Best thing I heard all day. Good riddance.
This is really going to bum out the Democrats.. Bachmann, joined Rush, Beck, Hannity, Paul as the Democrats best friends.
Michele Bachmann / Sarah Palin
Fox's News will never be the same !
good. get that crazed lunatic out of politics. maybe we should've prayed her away.
She is going to concentrate on running for Frankens senate seat and if that doesn't work, then on to go. "Crazy Eyes" Dayton.
She will never leave
The article fails to mention the fact that Ms. Bachmann is not only being investigated by the House Ethics Committee and the Federal Elections Commission, but by the FBI as well. Involvement by the FBI means that there is the real possibility of criminal wrongdoing where Ms. Bachmann's presidential campaign financing is concerned....
Best news I have heard in a long time!!!!
Another Tea Party quitter...throw some hand grenades, then get out. Nice
The collective IQ of Congress is about to get the biggest jump that could be hoped for.
I, for one, am disappointed. I would've much preferred to see her lose next year. But at least she's going to be gone. For those of you posters who question the political acumen of Minnesota voters for electing her, take a look at a map of the 6th Congressional District of Minnesota. It's been gerrymandered almost as bad as districts in Texas. Other than the northern Twin Cities suburbs/exurbs and the hick-filled southeast part of the state, Minnesota is very much a blue state.
The future of the USA just improved a little...
We have become a country completely devoid of respect for others. We call people names and crucify them if they aren't in step with our point of view. Only people who are sub-human can have values and ideals that differ from those who possess such vast intelligence as the folks who write snarky comments anonymously, right?
And let me just say that I am sick of all politicians, liberals and conservatives. I have no personal interest in Ms. Bachman, couldn't care less whether she runs or not, and don't watch Fox News. I am however, tired of people sitting behind their computers writing venomous attacks about someone they don't even know personally. Until people once again begin to respect the rights of others to have an opinion that differs from their own, this country will continue to be polarized and polluted by hostile human beings. I did not vote for President Obama, but respect him as my president. I would never call him names or imply he's not intelligent just because I don't agree with him on many issues. Stop with the character bashing, get off your butt, and make your little piece of the world a better place...and try to be kind and thoughtful to others while you're doing it.
The citizens of Minnesota are dancing in the streets today!
Don't let the door hit you in the behind. A win for Minnesota.
So much hate for this woman, who at the very least put herself in a position to effect changes she believed in rather than your position of 'hunched over the keyboard spewing hate'. Keep hating, people–it will keep you warm in the winter.
This confirms the existence of a kind and benevolent god.
GOOD FOR THE USA!!!
One more delusional tea bagger trashing American Politics!
Can we send in some money to her office to get her out sooner, we have no need for anymore raciest bigotry from her, I say good bye and STAY AWAY!!!
One less cancerous cell in the body politic.
What? She is such a rational and non controversial amoeba? When you listen to Michelle don't you just think no one and I mean no one is that ignorant?
Back to the coven! Now she will be doing what every bat poo crazy Republican does, get a show on FOX.