Retirement Flurry Creates Openings For Both Parties In 2014
Retirement Flurry Creates Openings For Both Parties In 2014
by Adam Wollner and S.V. Date
December 17, 2013
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/12/17/251996457/retirement-flurry-creates-openings-for-both-parties-in-2014
Congress got a jolt Tuesday when three House members announced they will step down at the end of their terms, creating 2014 pickup opportunities for both parties.
The retirements of Republican Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia and Tom Latham of Iowa came as welcome news to Democrats, who need a net gain of 17 seats to capture a House majority in the midterm elections.
Latham, a close ally of House Speaker John Boehner's, was first elected to the House in 1994. The Iowa Republican has typically breezed to re-election, though redistricting forced him into a tough incumbent-vs.-incumbent matchup against Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell in 2012. Latham won that contest 52 percent to 44 percent.
Despite his victory, Latham's southwest Iowa district is no Republican stronghold: President Obama carried it by 4 percentage points in 2012 and 6 points in 2008.
Wolf's decision not to seek re-election in Virginia's 10th District puts another GOP-held seat in play. ....................
