Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Retiring This Year To Spend Time With His Family And Avoid Getting His Ass Kicked But Mostly To Avoid Getting His Ass Kicked

Wow.

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced this evening that he’s retiring at the end of his term, a shocking development that threatens Democratic control of his Senate seat next year.

Dorgan was up for re-election in 2010, but the third-term senator wasn't facing any strong Republican opposition-- but was facing the growing possibility of a serious challenge from popular Gov. John Hoeven.

In his statement, Dorgan said his retirement was borne out of the desire to spend more time with his family.

He's the first incumbent Democrat (other than place holder appointments) to announce he's retiring. He may not be the last.

Looks like a bad year to be a 'moderate' Democrat in a nominally red state.

How does this impact health care? Will Lincoln and Landrieu start looking for excuses to vote against it or will this add pressure to the House to suck it up and vote for the Senate bill as is in order not to give them a reason to flip? My guess is the latter.

Added: Oh why not? The case for why Scott Brown could in Massachusetts.

posted by DrewM. at 06:50 PM

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