Guthrie Republican says she won’t seek re-election in 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A Republican state senator from Guthrie says she won’t seek re-election when her term is up this year.

Sen. A.J. Griffin announced in a press release on Wednesday that she plans to step down after serving six years in office. Her Senate District 20 seat includes Kingfisher, Logan, Noble and Pawnee counties. Griffin says she has struggled with whether to run again but said she heard “God’s call in another direction.”

Griffin was first elected in 2012 to fill an unexpired term following the death of former state Sen. David Myers. She wouldn’t have been term limited until 2026.

She is the second GOP senator to announce plans to step down before term limits. Sen. Josh Brecheen of Coalgate also says he won’t run again.