Politics

Monitor Congressional Retirements With The OpenCongress Wiki

By Sunlight Foundation & Participatory Politics Foundation

The economy and a host of other factors have made the political environment downright toxic for incumbents. Facing tough midterm campaigns, several Congressional Democrats and Republicans have decided to retire at the end of their term this year.

Four House members announced their retirement just this week: Rep. Vern Ehlers [R, MI-3], Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart [R, FL-21], Rep. Diane Watson [D, CA-33] and Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D, RI-1]. In total, 12 Democrats (four from the Senate, eight from the House) and 12 Republicans (six from the Senate, six from the House) will give up their seats this year. And that’s not even counting the lawmakers who are running for a different office or who have resigned ? or, in the case of Rep. John Murtha [D, PA-12], who have passed away.

With several state filing deadlines still in the distance and political conditions still looking tough for incumbents, more lawmakers will likely join their colleagues in retirement in the coming days. While we won’t be blogging about each and every one, you can still keep track of who’s retiring, who’s resigning and who’s running for what at our wiki.

Full post as published by Open Congress on February 12, 2010 (boomark / email).