Sen. Harry Reid decides to retire from Congress

Senator Harry Reid (NV) is not seeking re-election.

He told the New York Times that he had been contemplating retirement from the Senate for months.

Although the 75-year-old was badly hurt in an accident at his home gym, he said that mishap did not play a role in his decision.

Democrats lost majority control of the Senate in the last election, but he also denied that played a role.

"I understand this place," Reid said. "I have quite a bit of power as minority leader," he told the Times.

Reid's term ends at the end of 2016.