Niki Tsongas, wife Of Paul Tsongas (Ethiopia) retiring From Congress

 Congresswoman Niki Tsongas announces she will not run for reelection 

by the Boston Herald’s Chris Villani

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas

Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, who has represented Lowell [MA] for nearly a decade, announced today that she will not run for reelection, citing a desire to spend more time with her family. Tsongas’s statement:

I have learned in life that there is a time for endings and for new beginnings. After much thought, I have decided that this is one of those times. The time feels right most especially because of my desire to spend more time enjoying and celebrating my wonderful and growing family.

Paul Tsongas

Her late husband, Paul Tsongas (Ethiopia 1962-64), was a Democratic Congressman, and served as a Senator from Massachusetts. He made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 1992 as Bill Clinton captured the party nomination on the way to winning two terms in the White House.

Paul Tsongas died of cancer in 1997 at the age of 55.