After almost 10 years in the state House of Representatives, Rep. Chris Lee said he will not run for re-election for his District 51 seat (Kailua, Waimanalo).

His focus is now on the state Senate seat representing District 25 (Kailua, Lanikai, Enchanted Lake, Keolu Hills, Maunawili, Waimanalo, Hawaii Kai, Portlock).

That seat is open because incumbent Laura Thielen is not seeking another term. Thielen and Lee are both Democrats.

“It has been an amazing journey getting to know everyone on the windward side and working together to keep this a special place for our next generation,” Lee said on his Facebook page Tuesday.

He said he now wants to “expand the work that we are doing to build a better future here for our next generation.”

Lee, the chair of the House Committee on Judiciary and Labor, is perhaps best known for his work on renewable energy and environmental protection policy.

Raised in Kailua, Lee, who turns 39 at the end of this month, attended Iolani School and later Oregon State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science.