State Sen. Brian Kelsey announces departure

Embattled state Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), who has been indicted on federal campaign finance charges, announced last week he would not seek reelection.

Why it matters: Kelsey, 44, had been one of the Tennessee GOP's rising stars before he was accused of illegally funneling money from his state campaign to an ill-fated Congressional bid.

• Federal prosecutors revealed the charges against him last October. He denied the allegations and called the case "a political witch hunt."
• Kelsey was first elected to the General Assembly as a House representative in 2004.

What he's saying: Kelsey's federal trial is set for next January, but he did not mention the case while announcing his decision.

• "I will not be running for reelection due to a recent, exciting change to my personal life, and I look forward to spending more time with my family," Kelsey tweeted.
• Kelsey said he hoped voters would support him if he runs for elected office "in the coming years," although he did not provide more details.

Between the lines: Opponents had already lined up against Kelsey in the election set for later this year, including in the Republican primary, per the Tennessee Lookout.