Inhofe, 87, will remain in his seat until the next session of Congress begins in January 2023, The Oklahoman reported. The Republican told the newspaper he is leaving because he and his wife, Kay, “have decided that we need to have time together.”

His stepping down will trigger a special election in Oklahoma that will likely take place at the same time as November’s midterms, according to the Associated Press, clearing the way for a new senator to take the seat for the first time since Inhofe took office in 1994. Another Republican will likely replace Inhofe, as there have been no Democrat senators from Oklahoma since 1990, the AP said.

Inhofe has been a part of Oklahoma’s political landscape for more than 50 years. After serving in the Army in the late 1950s, he began serving as a representative in the Oklahoma House in 1967, then became a state senator in 1969. From 1978 to 1984, he served as the mayor of Tulsa. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was a U.S. representative before becoming a senator.

His term was set to end on January 3, 2027. Inhofe told The Oklahoman he had not made a “solid decision” to cut the term short until two or three weeks ago, but he added he is “absolutely” at peace with the decision.

“There has to be one day where you say, ‘All right, this is going to be it,’” he said.

During Inhofe’s 2020 reelection, he received nearly 63 percent of the vote and won by almost 30 points, KOCO-TV reported. In his interview with The Oklahoman, Inhofe endorsed his chief of staff, Luke Holland, to take his place once he leaves. He added that he would campaign for Holland ahead of the June 28 Republican primary.

Holland’s campaign website says he aims to “continue the Inhofe legacy of fighting for the United States of America and its conservative Christian values.”

Holland is not the only Republican who will be vying for the seat later this year. U.S. Representatives Kevin Hern and Markwayne Mullin, former Speaker of the Oklahoma House T.W. Shannon and Tulsa lawyer Gentner Drummond are expected to consider running for the seat, the AP said.

A series of campaign announcements regarding the seat are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Update 02/25/22 11:20 a.m. ET: This story was updated to add more information and background.