Senator Ensign announces he will not run again

[cali]

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), facing an ethics investigation stemming from an affair with a campaign aide, has announced that he won't seek reelection. Ensign made the announcement Monday in Las Vegas.

Just two months into the 112th Congress, Ensign is the eighth Senate incumbent to opt out of running for a new term, out of 33 seats up in 2012.

The announcement is welcome news to national Republicans who have admitted the two-term Republican would be vulnerable in the race. GOP Rep. Dean Heller, who won three statewide elections as secretary of State, is considered the party's best candidate to retain the seat.

In February, the Senate Ethics Committee named a special counsel to investigate claims that Ensign violated ethics rules and federal law in the aftermath of his affair with Cynthia Hampton, a campaign aide married to Douglas Hampton, another Ensign aide and close friend of the senator.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-ensign-retire-20110308,0,2651430.story

[VoteProgressive]

1. Good riddens

[JI7]

2. that's too bad, i remember reading he only raised like 30 dollars not too long ago

[spanone]

3. he should NOT BE ALLOWED to run again

[The Wielding Truth]

6. Yea. Who has given him the option?

[joeybee12]

4. Get ready for Sharon Angle version 2.0!!!!

Dumber, crazier and even more obnoxious!!!!!!

[FBaggins]

9. Why version 2.0?

Did 1.0 die?

[sadbear]

5. It would have been easier to beat him than some other (R) guy

[FSogol]

7. Good riddance. Why isn't he in jail?

:shrug:

[old mark]

8. K&R- Is there ANY chance of a good Democratic candidate there?

I will support whoever runs against the GOP if they have a chance of winning-I donated several times to Reid's campaign against Angle, and I live in PA.

mark

[FBaggins]

10. Sure!

There's one congresswoman who recently (narrowly) lost her seat (Titus) and another who won her district handily (Berkley). I wouldn't expect Rory Reid to make another run at it, but he might shoot for that 1st district House seat if Berkley makes a run at it.

[BlueDemKev]

11. Does this mean Sharon Angle May Run Again???

God FORBID!

[PDittie]

12. NV trending blue, unions strong, Obama top of the ballot

Hope Nevada Dems have a good candidate (or two).

[marmar]

13. So will Crazy Angle and the Chicken Lady get into the race again?

nt