Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) will not seek reelection in 2014

[TroyD]

Via a Politico news alert:

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) announced Thursday he will not seek reelection in 2014. The six-term, 78-year-old senator wrote in a statement that he and his wife “struggled” with whether to retire but decided he could better focus on issues such as reforming the Tax Code and boosting manufacturing over the the next two years “without the distraction of campaigning for reelection.”

http://sulia.com/channel/all-politics-causes/f/6ab01142-fd95-4582-beac-fdd940f0c816/

[TroyD]

1. Sen. Carl Levin will not seek re-election in 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Carl Levin announced Thursday he will not seek re-election in 2014, saying he wants to serve as Senate Armed Services chairman and an advocate for his home state of Michigan "without the distraction of campaigning for re-election."

Levin, 78, was first elected to the Senate in 1978 and is the longest-serving senator in Michigan's history. He said in a statement the decision was "extremely difficult because I love representing the people of Michigan" and "fighting for the things that I believe are important for them."

Levin is the sixth member of the Senate to announce his retirement, creating an open seat for Democrats in a state that has backed President Barack Obama twice but where Republicans hold the governor's office. Democrats, who control 55 seats in the Senate, have to defend open seats in West Virginia, Iowa and New Jersey in the aftermath of three other retirements and will try to hold onto 21 seats in next year's elections.

Rep. Gary Peters, a Democrat who represents suburban Detroit, has been viewed as a potential Senate candidate, while Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican who represents a district that includes Grand Rapids, is also considering a run.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/levin-will-not-seek-re-election-2014

[Hulk Smash]

2. Hot damn! Now's my chance to run for senate!

Seriously, I may as well. We have a real shortage here in Mich of quality Dem politicians.

[Cha]

3. thanks TroyD I hope we have

some strong, fire in belly, Dems in Michigan like Bruce Braley in Iowa.

[TroyD]

4. I'm concerned about how many retirements are occurring for 2014

Jay Rockefeller (WV)

Tom Harkin (IA)

Carl Levin (MI)

I hope strong candidates are being lined up in all these places!