AUSTIN - A longtime Republican state representative in a northwest Houston swing district announced Wednesday he won't seek re-election, abandoning the seat in this rapidly changing swath of suburbs as Democrats aim to turn it — and the Texas House — blue.

Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, who has served since 2003, said he will retire from office at the end of his term representing District 138 to focus on his family, new callings in his life and to give someone else an opportunity to serve in the Legislature.

“As I make this announcement, I cannot help but be overwhelmed with a sense of pride about the constituents and civic leaders in our community who have been invaluable partners along this incredible journey to make District 138 a better place in which to live, work and raise a family. Together, much has been accomplished,” he said in a statement on his campaign website.

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Bohac authored a bill this year requiring education officials to weave into education standards a series of positive character traits, including gratitude, courage, integrity, empathy, patriotism and respect for authority and the law. In previous years he authored a law creating a sales tax holiday for school supplies and the “Merry Christmas Bill” giving school staff permission to offer greetings like “Happy Hanukkah” and “Merry Christmas.”

Bohac, vice chairman of the House County Affairs Committee, won re-election to the seat last year by 47 votes — the slimmest margin of victory in the Legislature in the 2018 elections. Two neighboring districts that reliably voted Republican in the past elected Democrats in 2018, painting northwest Harris County purple as swing districts ahead of the 2020 election.

His decision to not run for re-election puts GOP control of that seat in peril. Incumbents typically enjoy an upper hand in re-election bids, generally in better name recognition and stronger fundraising.

Democrats have targeted his district as they try to take control of the Texas House. Political operatives from either party have identified more than two dozen House seats that are flippable in the greater Houston and Dallas areas: 11 in the greater Houston area, 16 in the DFW Metroplex.

Democrats need to win nine seats to make up a majority of the 150-member House, which would break up decades of Republican dominance in Austin. The stakes are high — the party that controls the House in 2021 will wield influence when the Legislature redraws Congressional and state district boundaries following next year’s census.

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“Texas is the biggest battleground state. That’s why vulnerable State Rep. Dwayne Bohac threw in the towel instead of being thrown out of office. Republicans know we will take back the Texas House and win up and down the ballot,” said Abhi Rahman, a spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party.

At least two Democrats are running in that district, including attorneys Akilah Bacy and Josh Wallenstein.

Republicans are looking to hold onto Bohac’s district was well as winning back Districts 132 and 135, which include Katy and Jersey Village, respectively. Both districts are now home to freshmen Democratic legislators who won by less than a 4-percentage point margin.

“As we head into 2020, we look forward to working with the Republican nominee who will pick up where Dwayne leaves off and continue to support the pro-taxpayer, pro-business, and pro-family values of HD 138 voters," said Paul Simpson, chairman of the Harris County Republican Party.