A longtime member of Kentucky’s General Assembly, state Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, announced she will not seek reelection at the end of her current term.?

In a Tuesday press release, Harper Angel said it “has been a profound honor” to serve Kentucky. Harper Angel has represented District 35, which includes part of Jefferson County, in the Kentucky Senate since 2005. Her term ends in 2025.?

“I am deeply humbled by the support over the years and the incredible individuals I’ve had the privilege to meet and work with,” she said. “Now, it’s time for a new chapter, focusing on my personal life and creating cherished memories with my family.”

Harper Angel is one of seven Democrats in the 38-member Senate.Harper Angel said she was proud of the General Assembly’s work “to bring justice for victims of rape, and other initiatives to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” and said she will continue to be dedicated to this work throughout the 2024 session.?

Senate Minority Floor Leader Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, said Harper Angel’s achievements in the legislature “have been monumental, especially in her advocacy for victims.”?

“Her presence will be greatly missed in the Senate, but her legacy of compassion and justice will undoubtedly carry on,” Neal said. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished together, and I wish her all the best moving forward.”

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, also said he appreciated his time serving with Harper Angel.?

“Sometimes we agreed and sometimes we didn’t,” Stivers said. “On the Senate floor though, no matter what, she was always professional in her conduct and decorum. I wish her all the best in the future!”

?Before being elected to the Senate, Harper Angel was the first woman elected to become the Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator. She served in that role from 1990 to 2004.