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Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, chairman of the influential Foreign Relations Committee, will not seek re-election in 2018.

He is the first senator to announce retirement plans ahead of next year's election cycle.

"I also believe the most important public service I have to offer our country could well occur over the next 15 months," Corker said in a statement, "and I want to be able to do that as thoughtfully and independently as I did the first 10 years and nine months of my Senate career."

That could well be an allusion that Corker may speak out more in areas where he may disagree with President Trump.

Corker also hinted that his political career may not be over.

"I know that we will continue to have an impact for the remainder of our term," Corker said, "and I look forward to finding other ways to make a difference in the future."

Corker, 65, the former mayor of Chattanooga, Tenn., has been a steadfast conservative in his votes but moderate in his tone, from making a mark on the auto bailout to playing a key role in the consideration of authorization of force in Syria during the Obama administration.

He embraced Trump during the campaign and was even said to be in the running for secretary of state before the job instead went to former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson.


But Corker's relationship with the president has soured somewhat. In May, he referred to the administration as being in a "

" that Trump needed to get "under control."



 he believed the president "has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful."
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon

Even before Corker's comments, polls showed that many conservative voters were unhappy with him. And since then, their attacks on the senator have intensified.

His departure opens the door for other GOP candidates.

One Republican considering running is Mark Green, a doctor and state lawmaker. Earlier this year, Green was Trump's pick to be Army secretary but withdrew from consideration after being criticized by LGBT and Muslim rights organizations.

Chas Sisk is a reporter for NPR member station WPLN in Nashville, Tenn.

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Chas Sisk

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The Senate Foreign Relations chairman is calling it quits and won't run for a third term. His retirement eliminates a thoughtful GOP voice who was also, at times, critical of President Trump.

Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker won't seek re-election in 2018

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