ST. PAUL — Republican Rep. John Kline, a seven-term lawmaker and chairman of the House Education panel, announced Thursday he won’t seek re-election next year in a Minnesota district that has grown more politically competitive in recent years.

Kline has represented southeastern Minnesota’s 2nd District since 2002. The former Marine carved out a niche in Congress on military issues and, more recently, on education issues as the head of the committee. He said he will use the next 16 months to fashion a replacement to the No Child Left Behind education law.