U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, a Republican who has represented North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District since 1995, has announced that she won’t seek another term in office:

Myrick is the third member of the Tar Heel congressional delegation to pass on a re-election bid this year, the other two being Democrats Heath Shuler and Brad Miller.

Even without the incumbency power of Myrick, it’s nearly guaranteed the 9th District won’t switch parties in 2012. Republican John McCain won there in 2008 (54-40 percent) for president, as did Republican Pat McCrory (66-32 percent) for governor and Republican Elizabeth Dole for U.S. Senate (50-46 percent). All three of those candidates lost their races in the statewide tally. The GOP has a 40 percent to 32 percent advantage in voter registration over Democrats in the 9th.