WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announced that he will not seek re-election in 2018.
“I am saddened to hear that my friend, Senator Jeff Flake, will not be seeking re-election in 2018. Annie and I wish Jeff and Cheryl Flake and their family all the best.
“Reviewing our voting records alone, one would find that there were few Senators with whom I have disagreed more than Jeff Flake, but votes alone do not tell the story of our constructive working relationship. Jeff is a colleague I deeply respect, and his independent streak and passion for a variety of issues that are also important to me, from wildlife trafficking in Africa to immigration reform in the United States, have given me the opportunity to not only work with him but get to know him better, as well. I am proud to count him among my closest friends in the chamber.
“As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am particularly concerned that Senators Flake and Bob Corker, who have had the courage and clarity to stand up to President Trump and his unconventional style in foreign policy, are leaving the Senate and the committee at a critical time. It is my hope that their successors will be willing to work across the aisle and advance America’s interests around the world like Senator Flake and Chairman Corker have.”
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