US Rep. Says He's Battling Alcoholism, Drops Re-election Bid

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Republican Congressman Thomas Garrett of Virginia has announced he will no longer seek re-election, saying he needs to work on recovering from alcoholism and renewing his commitment to his family.
  
Garrett made the announcement Monday in a video recorded in Richmond. It was first reported by The Washington Post.
  
Garrett held a long, rambling news conference last week to deny reports he was thinking of dropping his bid for a second term.
  
He says people who know him well are aware he's an alcoholic, but making that public was a struggle. He also says "sometimes winning means knowing where your priorities should be."
  
Garrett represents Virginia's reliably Republican 5th district, which runs from Northern Virginia to the North Carolina line.
  
Party officials will pick a replacement candidate in coming days.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)