Rep. Dennis Kucinich announced that he will not run for a House seat in Washington after losing the Democratic nomination for his seat in Ohio.

Kucinich, 65, a perennial presidential candidate and former Cleveland mayor, will retire from the House of Representatives at the end of his eighth term.

In March, following redistricting that placed his district in the same district with fellow Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Kucinich lost the primary. He was flirting with the idea of running in an open seat race in Washington.

During his time in the House, Kucinich was a consistent critic of Israel. He advocated increased U.S. pressure on Israel to make concessions toward peace and routinely voted against legislation backed by pro-Israel groups.

Kucinich also was a vocal critic of Iran sanctions. — jta