GOP Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska will not seek re-election next year, telling his supporters in an e-mail that the time is right after decades in public service.

“With everything in life there is a time and season,” said Johanns, a former U.S. Agriculture secretary and governor.

Johanns was first elected to the Senate in 2008. He recently bucked his party by saying he will vote to confirm fellow Nebraskan Chuck Hagel for Defense secretary — only the second GOP senator to support the embattled Obama nominee.

Democrats are likely to take a run at Nebraska next year, in part because of the need to expand the playing field. Democrats will defend 21 Senate seats in 2014, compared with 14 for Republicans.

The state is not friendly for Democrats. In November, former senator and governor Bob Kerrey lost by 16 percentage points to Republican Deb Fischer for a Senate seat. There are no Democrats serving in Nebraska’s congressional delegation or any statewide office.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, has already been mentioned as a potential Senate candidate. The state has a rich tradition of ex-governors coming to Washington with several former governors including Johanns in recent years going on to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, praised Johanns for his “principled leadership” while in public office. “The Cornhusker state will look to continue its strong conservative tradition by electing an equally dedicated Republican leader in 2014,” Moran said in a statement.

Johanns joins Republicans Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Democrats Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey in announcing his retirement. Early announcements give the parties time to recruit candidates.

In his statement, Johanns noted that both he and his wife, Stephanie, have been on the ballot 16 times and served in eight different offices. Stephanie Johanns is a former Lancaster County commissioner and Nebraska state senator.

“It is time to close this chapter of our lives,” Johanns said.

Johanns is not the only senator to opt out of the Senate after one term. Democrat Jim Webb of Virginia decided not to seek another term in 2012 and retired when his term ended in January.