Longest-serving US Senator Patrick Leahy will not seek re-election next year

Senator Patrick Leahy (Mary Schwalm/AP)

Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the longest-serving current member of the US Senate, said he will not seek reelection next year to the seat he has held for eight terms.

Mr Leahy, 81, said he and his wife, Marcelle, have concluded that “it is time to pass the torch to the next Vermonter who will carry on this work for our great state.