Saying Goodbye: Change in the 112th Congress. Cheers or Jeers
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6 votes
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67% | |||
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3 votes
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33% | |||
Not every representative and senator who is sworn in at the beginning of a
Congress is around for the end of their terms. Some step down for other jobs or
in the wake of scandal, and a few, sadly, prove all too mortal. Others may stay
until the end of their terms, but don't plan on seeking reelection out of a
desire to retire from politics or to seek other elective positions.
At about the half-way mark in the 112th Congress, here's the breakdown of
representatives and senators who've left—or plan to leave—Congress, and those
who are seeking election to other offices.
Below are those representatives who've announced that they are running for offices other than their current House seats:
REUBLICAN/Florida Name: Rep. Connie Mack | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 2004
REPUBLICAN/Minnesota
Name: Rep. Michele Bachmann | Office Sought: President |First Elected to House: 2006
REPUBLICAN/Texas
Name: Rep. Ron Paul | Office Sought: President |First Elected to House: 1996
REPUBLICAN/Indiana
Name: Rep. Mike Pence | Office Sought: Governor |First Elected to House: 2000
REPUBLICAN/Missouri
Name: Rep. Todd Akin | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 2000 |Senate Incumbent: Claire McCaskill
DEMOCRAT/Washington
Name: Rep. Jay Inslee (pictured with Sen. Maria Cantwell and then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2008) | Office Sought: Governor | First Elected to House: 1998
REPUBLICAN/Arizona
Name: Rep. Jeff Flake | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 2000 |Senate Incumbent: Open seat (Republican Jon Kyl isn't seeking reelection)
REPUBLICAN/North Dakota
Name: Rep. Rick Berg | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 2010 |Senate Incumbent: Open seat
REPUBLICAN/Montana
Name: Rep. Denny Rehberg | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 2000 |Senate Incumbent: Democrat Jon Tester
DEMOCRAT/Wisconsin
Name: Rep. Tammy Baldwin | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 1998
DEMOCRAT/Hawaii
Name: Rep. Mazie Hirono (second from left) | Office Sought:Senate | First Elected to House: 2006 |Senate Incumbent: Open seat (Democrat Daniel Akaka announced earlier this year that he wouldn't seek reelection)
DEMOCRAT/Connecticut
Name: Rep. Chris Murphy | Office Sought: Senate | First Elected to House: 2006 |Senate Incumbent: Open seat (Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman announced that he wouldn't seek reelection)
DEMOCRAT/New Mexico
Name: Rep. Martin Heinrich | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 2008 |Senate Incumbent: Open seat (Democrat Jeff Bingaman announced that he wouldn't seek reelection)
DEMOCRAT/Indiana
Name: Rep. Joe Donnelly | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 2006 |Senate Incumbent: Republican Richard Lugar
DEMOCRAT/Nevada
Name: Rep. Shelley Berkley | Office Sought: Senate |First Elected to House: 1998 |Senate Incumbent: Republican Dean Heller (Heller became senator May 9 after being appointed by Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval to fill the remainder of retired Republican John Ensign's term
DEMOCRAT/California
Name: Rep. Bob Filner | Office Sought: Mayor |First Elected to House: 1992
Total Membership: 435
Democrats: 192
Republicans: 242
Independents: 0
Vacancies: 1
The Breakdown
Resigned (5)
Democrats (3)
Jane Harman (Calif.) -- resigned to become president of the Woodrow Wilson Center
3. David Wu (Ore.) -- resigned in wake of report that he had an "unwanted sexual encounter" with the teenage daughter of a campaign donor
Republicans (2)
1. Chris Lee (N.Y.) -- resigned in wake of his reply to an online personal ad with a shirtless photo of himself
2. Dean Heller (Nev.) -- resigned after being appointed senator
Retiring (10)
Democrats (9)
1. Dan Boren (Okla.)
2. Lynn Woolsey (N.Y.)
3. Dale Kildee (Mich.)
4. Mike Ross (Ark.)
5. Jerry Costello (Ill.)
6. Dennis Cardoza (Calif.)
7. John Olver (Mass.)
8. Charlie Gonzalez (Texas)
9. Barney Frank (Mass.)
Republicans (1)
1. Geoff Davis (Ky.)
Running for Other Offices (16)
Democrats
(8)
1. Chris Murphy (Conn.) -- running for Senate
2. Martin Heinrich (N.M.) -- running for Senate
3. Shelley Berkley (Nev.) -- running for Senate
4. Joe Donnelly (Ind.) -- running for Senate
5. Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) -- running for Senate
6. Jay Inslee (Wash.) -- running for governor
7 . Bob Filner (Calif.) -- running for mayor (San Diego)
8. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.) -- running for Senate
Republicans (8)
1. Denny Rehberg (Mont.) -- running for Senate
2. Jeff Flake (Ariz.) -- running for Senate
3. Mike Pence (Ind.) -- running for governor
4. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) -- running for president
5. Ron Paul (Texas) -- running for president
6. Todd Akin (Mo.) -- running for Senate
7. Rick Berg (N.D.) -- running for Senate
8. Connie Mack (Fla.) -- running for Senate
Sources:
House of Representatives Press Gallery; National Journal stories
SENATE
Total Membership: 100
Democrats: 51
Republicans: 47
Independents: 2
Vacancies: 0
The Breakdown
Resigned (1)
Democrats (0)
Republicans (1)
1. John Ensign (Nev.) -- resigned after almost two years of investigations into his affair with his staffer's wife and his
attempts to hide it
Retiring (9)
Democrats
(7)
1. Kent Conrad (N.D.)
2. Joe Lieberman (Conn.)
3. Jim Webb (Va.)
4. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.)
5. Daniel Akaka (Hawaii)
6. Herb Kohl (Wis.)
7. Ben Nelson (Neb.)
Republicans (2)
1. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas)
2. Jon Kyl (Ariz.)
Top Opinion
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Rodney 2011/12/29 03:12:29Cheers
+5I could have used that third choice of Cheers and Jeers. I cheer the fact that there are more Democrats seat up for election and jeered that fact that republicans come across as so timid. There is so much ammo out there that could be used against the far left that the republicans never use. Also, the republicans rarely fight back against the misinformation and outright lies told by democrats and the media. As much as I am disillusioned by BOTH parties and for the most part see them as identical in direction and moral values, until there are better choices we have to support the side that will do the least damage. Once again, vote for the lesser of two evils.
The House has done a decent job, despite Bonehead- Cantor has kept him fairly well in line
The Senate is an abomination
When you ask polls about "Congress" please differentiate between the two chambers. It does not matter how many bills the House passes/sends to th Senate, If Harry Reid will not even let them come to the floor for a debate or vote
There are good Conservative Congressmen who are doing their best to undo the damage Obama and CO have created.
Let's try not to throw the baby out with the bath water. It is necessary to do our homework this time around. They all have a record/paper trail that is in the public record for us to evaluate. Our job is to weed out the RINOS and Liberals in both parties!!
Who we elect to serve as our Congressman is probably more important than the presidency this time. Let's try not to put all our eggs in one basket. Granny says there is more than one way to "skin a cat". Let's keep that in mind!
http://www.californiaprogress...