Minnesota Congressman John Kline Will Not Seek Re-Election

[sarisataka]

This will be interesting. It would be nice to grab that seat back.

U.S. Rep. John Kline said Thursday he is not seeking re-election.

Kline, who turns 68 on Sunday, did not say why he was deciding to end his career in Congress after 2016.

"Public service is an honor. I am proud to have embraced it throughout my life. Despite the serious challenges facing America, it remains the greatest country in the world and we are blessed to call it home. It has been and will continue to be a privilege serving the men and women of Minnesota's 2nd District for the next 16 months," Kline said in a statement.

Kline said a conference call with reporters that it is "just time" to retire. He said his health is good and he has no plans to run for governor or U.S. senate in 2018.

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S3896441.shtml?cat=127

[dhol82]

1. Always sounds like there is more there when they make that comment

Have not looked yet to see if he R or D.

There is more to the story whichever.

[sarisataka]

3. He's an R

Less disgusting than many but solid conservative on most issues.

[scarletwoman]

2. Heard this on MPR on my way home from work.

It would be great if the DFL could pick up this seat! MPR also mentioned that Kline's district voted for Obama in 2012, and Franken in 2014. A Dem pick-up could be a real possibility!

[dhol82]

4. Then it sounds like there is more there

It would be nice to get a dem into that position.

Has anybody from the DNC looked into it? Or, am I being naive?

[scarletwoman]

5. Thre are two Dem candidates who were already set to run against Kline.

Now that it's going to be an open seat, I assume they will both continue their efforts. Kline's announcement doesn't change things all that much - they will both be vying for the State DFL endorsement. Whoever wins the state party endorsement will appear on the ballot in 2016, running against whomever the Republicans nominate to run for that seat.

The only thing that might change is that other Dems might also get into the race for the DFL endorsement, since it will now be an open seat.

[Thor_MN]

6. He was due to lose his current Committe chairmanship.

He is the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Due to term limits on Chairmanships, he was going to have to leave that committee.

His replacement will have no seniority, but he would lose that chairmanship if he ran again and won.

[glinda]

7. Excellent because

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3677555-bills-end-endangered-species-act-protections-wolves-introduced-congress

and I heard Amy K was raving about being able to delist the wolves again at the State Fair. She needs to go also. Somehow.

[Angry Dragon]

8. You mean Amy the fence sitter??

[AllyCat]

9. Saw this on the paper at the coffee shop

We are vacationing here from behind the cheese curtain. Almost everyone is hiring. Pizza place $9 plus tips. Bus drivers at $16/hr. This does not happen in our part of Wisconsin. We are from a town of ~13K and this town is just slightly larger. Lots of new public projects: roads being repaired, massive inclusive playground, lovely parks, many just redone...

Maybe we just picked the right places to compare.

But when I saw this headline, I thought "a Dem can pick up this seat". Well done MN!

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Sounds like Mary Pawlenty will run for his seat

according to the news media around the Cities.