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Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia will announce his plans today to retire and not seek reelection, aides confirm to ABC News.

The longtime senator, 75, will make his announcement at 11 a.m. today in Charleston, W. Va., joined by family and staff.

In an interview with the AP ahead of his announcement this morning the senator said he wishes to bring more "balance" to his life.

"I've gotten way out of whack in terms of the time I should spend with my wife and my children and my grandchildren," Rockefeller told the AP.

The NRSC says that Rockefeller's retirement makes WVA an "even stronger pickup opportunity" for the GOP in 2014.

"Senator Rockefeller's decision not to seek reelection makes West Virginia an even stronger pickup opportunity for Republicans in 2014," said NRSC Executive Director Rob Collins. "Voters next year will have a clear choice between a Democrat who will be a loyal vote for President Obama and Harry Reid as they try to kill West Virginia's coal industry and bankrupt our country with reckless government spending, versus a Republican who will serve as an effective check-and-balance on their liberal agenda and work to get our country's economy back on track."