Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama said Monday that he will not run again in 2022. The six-term Republican is the longest serving Senator in the state's history.

Today I announce that I will not seek a seventh term in the Senate in 2022. For everything, there is a season. I am grateful to the people of Alabama who have put their trust in me for more than forty years. https://t.co/UXNJyc3OPC

— Richard Shelby (@SenShelby) February 8, 2021

Shelby becomes the fourth Senator - all Republicans - to announce their retirement this cycle.  The others are Richard Burr (NC), Rob Portman (OH), and Pat Toomey (PA). While those other states are expected to be somewhat to highly competitive, the GOP is very likely to hold the seat in this deep red state. Democrat Doug Jones was able to narrowly win a Senate seat here in 2017, but that was a special election with a flawed Republican nominee. Up for a regular six-year term this past November, Jones lost to Republican Tommy Tuberville by 20 points.

In total, 34 Senate seats will be contested next year. Create and share your forecast with the 2022 Senate Interactive Map.