Another GOP Senator to Retire
Republican incumbent US Senators up for reelection in 2010 are dropping like flies, choosing to retire instead of stand for reelection. Furthermore, and more important for Democrats, the retirements are coming in critical key swing states.
Last week, Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri announced he would not seek reelection, creating a pretty significant void for Republicans in a state that has seen super tight races. Now, Ohio Senator George Voinovich will announce on Monday that he will not seek reelection. Ohio is a critical key swing state that Democrats managed to wrestle from Republicans with a big win for Barack Obama in November.
But, further compounding the dilemma for Republicans, is the ability of Democrats to win statewide, rather than just Presidential electoral successes, in these critical swing states. Senator Claire McCaskill wrestled a seat away from the GOP in 2006 defeating incumbent Republican Jim Talent in Missouri. Further, in 2006, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) defeated former Sen. Mike DeWine ® in Ohio.
Voinovich becomes the 4th member of the GOP Caucus to announce they will not seek reelection.
Voinovich will be the fourth Republican senator to announce he will not run for re-election in 2010. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, said late last week that we would retire, joining Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Florida, and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, who had already announced they would leave Capitol Hill when their terms end at the close of the 111th Congress.
Republicans must defend 15 incumbents and four open seats in 2010. (Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, whose term is not up until 2012, is seriously considering a 2010 gubernatorial bid and could also be vacating her seat early).
In addition to the 4 retirement, the Texas Senate seat will also be open. Sen. Kay Baily Hutchison is leaving the Senate to run for Governor of Texas.
The 2010 midterm elections are expected to still be pretty a tough environment still for the Republican Party, facing consistent backlash from the George W. Bush Presidency. These retirements don’t make things any easier. In addition, with the win of Sen. Al Franken in Minnesota, the Democrats now have a 59 member Majority in the US Senate, putting the Democrats just one seat away from the filibuster proof 60 seat majority.