Limestone County’s eight-man legislative delegation could look radically different next year as nearly half the county’s representatives will not be returning, though all the seats are up for grabs in the June primaries.

State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, previously announced his intention to leave his state Senate seat and run for the 5th congressional seat now held by U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks. Holtzclaw announced Thursday he had suspended his campaign.

“Thus after serving my country for 20 years as a US Marine, my state for 8 years as the Senator for AL District 2, and my city for 2 years as a Madison City Councilman; I am ready to return to the private sector,” Holtzclaw wrote on his personal blog. “I am thankful to have had a good run and fought the good fight over 3 decades of public service.”

He said he would continue to serve in his Senate until his term ends in November.

When Holtzclaw decided to run for Congress in August, a fellow member of the local legislative delegation — State Rep. Phil Williams, R-Huntsville — announced he would seek election to Holtzclaw’s Senate seat. Williams later announced he would not seek Holtzclaw’s seat nor re-election to his District 6 House seat.

Another member of the local delegation, Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, was ousted from the state House after pleading guilty to mail fraud charges. His place in the local legislative delegation is the only truly open seat.

On Feb. 27, a Republican primary runoff between Tom Fredricks and Parker Moore will be held for Hammon’s seat. The winner will face Democratic candidate Juanita Allen Healy of Decatur in a special election May 15. The winner of the special election may then face another opponent in the June 5 primary.

Other delegation seats on the primary ballot are:

• State Senate, District 1 (Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, incumbent);

• State Senate, District 3 (Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, incumbent);

• State Representative, District 2 (Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, incumbent);

• State Representative, District 5 (Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, incumbent); and

• State Representative, District 25 (Rep. Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, incumbent. McCutcheon also serves as Alabama House Speaker).