RALEIGH, (AP) - Two Democrats serving in the North Carolina General Assembly and facing potential primaries with fellow legislators aren't running for re-election this year.

Rep. Maggie Jeffus of Greensboro and Sen. Bob Atwater of Chatham County announced their decisions Wednesday in the middle of the candidate filing period.

Jeffus has been in the House since 1991 and was recently a House education budget-writer. She was drawn into the same district with Rep. Pricey Harrison. The 77-year-old Jeffus says the Legislature feels like a full-time job and leaves her little time for her family.

Atwater was drawn into the same district with Sen. Ellie Kinnaird of Orange County. The 66-year-old Atwater joined the Senate in 2005.

The departure continues an exodus of Democratic lawmakers since 2009.