Maryland State Sen. Rob Garagiola Resigns

Maryland State Sen. Rob Garagiola announced he is resigning.

The Montgomery County Democrat announced Thursday he will leave the Senate Sept. 1.

The 40-year-old senator said in a statement that he is leaving office to spend more time with his three children.

Garagiola was elected to the Maryland Senate in 2002. He has been majority leader since 2011.

Garagiola's term expires in 2015. The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee will choose a replacement and forward the name to the governor, who makes the selection official.

Last year, he ran for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in Maryland's 6th Congressional District. However, Garagiola lost the primary to John Delaney, who went on to defeat Bartlett last year.