(CNN) - Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Florida, announced Tuesday will not seek reelection in 2010.
In a Florida press conference, Martinez said his decision was not based on the likelihood he would face a tough reelection fight.
"I've faced much tougher obstacles in my life," he said. "My decision is not based on re-election prospects, but on what on what I want to do with the next eight years of my life."
The first term senator and onetime National Republican Committee chairman narrowly won his first Senate race in 2004. Martinez also served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during President Bush's term.
One congressional source cited Martinez's age, 62, and said "he is ready for the next chapter in his life."
It currently appears 19 GOP seats will be up for grabs in 2010.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Shame that so many Republicans are jumping ship. Hopefully this will allow some others, though, that hold to a true conservative belief to rise up and step into office. Just wait 4 years from now, as the Dems are in power, we will see a discontent with the general public and there will be another shift back the other way. The public is fickle like that...
I can't wait to see what kind of hair brained social agenda the far left dems have in mind now that they have power. Oh well, only 4 more years to go.
Can any of you lefty nuts even define what a neocon is? Quick, now go run to wikipedia or google and look up the term so you can come back here and act like you know what your talking about. I am so amazed at how ignorant so many Americans are.
For the most part, you lefties simply regurgitate the same bile spewing forth from our liberal media. The left has become nothing more than puppets of the press; stained red from drinking too much kool-aid.
I am sure all Republicans will ALL have a hard time with reelection in 2010. They have a tough decision about what direction their party will take. Will they take the Palin path of right wing religious wackos or will they follow the vile teaching of Carl Rove tactics? Possibly they could reemerge as a party that really does dislike big government and high taxes. I have voted as a Republican for the past 35 years except for the last 8 years. I did not vote for a second term for Bush and I supported Barack Obama this year.
It will be interesting to see what the 2012 Party looks like. In any case I can't ever see myself ever returning to the Republicans. They are lost in the wilderness.
And another one bites the dust. I hope floridians are smart enough not to get Jeb Bush back but then again.......
I'm sure Jeb 'Shadow GOP Government' Bush will run. These GOP scum are like cockroaches, you can't ever seem to get rid of them.
I know little about Mr. Martinez, but I will say that the pendelum swings back and forth in many political things, and right now it is going the democrats way. That will not last as they will screw things up as good as the republicans have, and then there will be a backlash the other way. And by the way, I seem to recall the Carter and Clinton administrations making all sorts of concerned comments about Castro. This has not just been a republican issue.
maybe sara palin should go live in florida and run.
Another do-nothing Republican in the back pockets of Corporate America gone! Amen to that!!
Let's get Alex Sink to run for his spot, or maybe get Charlie "What Crisis?" Crist out of the governor's mansion. She would run circles around either one of these guys.
C'mon Florida!
Pick a great democrat and let's seal the deal with 60+ in the senate in 2010!
There truly is a GOD!!!! Good riddance Martinez...We people of the state of can't stand you anyways. The only reason you were elected was because of Jeb Bush...I just pray that Jeb won't run for his Senate seat..Like one of the comments in here stated. We darn sure don't need another BUSH in any political position anymore. Haven't the Bushes hurt the USA enough....So as I stated before GOOD RIDDANCE, may the door kick you in the rump on the way out.
One less right wing nut job in the Senate. For too long these troglydytes have blocked the will of the people, poll after poll shows we want out of Iraq, we want national health insurance, we want more aid to higher eduction, we want an end to corporate welfare, and this neo-con has been one of the top obstructionists, doing the bidding of fat cats and corporations as he did the Bush Bootlick. Good bye and good riddance.
see ya laytah senator poopypants
19 more for us Democrats! I LOVE CHANGE
Like most people in Florida, Martinez is one more neocon that I will be more than glad to be rid of.
Unfortunately, 2010 is a long way off and I suspect this rat-face has something up his sleeve.
..
This news made my day. As a Floridian, I say good riddance.
The GOP is sinking fast and still have no clue but I'll give them a couple, Palin and Giuliani. Dump your garbage.
I lived in Orange County Florida when he was the County Commissioner, then went to Washington to become the head of HUD before his Senate run. I've known him to be a good man, of good character and principles.
If you don't agree with his principles, and his "conservative" views, that's fine, but don't talk bad about a man you DON'T know.
Not all Republicans are bad people, they just see things differently.
I am an independent, and this last election voted Mostly democrat, including voting for Obama, but I use common sense, not this "hate all republicans" attitude I read about. That's what makes me sad.
more elected official should only spend 1 or 2 terms, anyone that has been in DC for more then 12 years should go.
As a liberal Floridian, I say "Cheers!" Martinez is a very conservative right-winger and I just hope that whichever GOPer emerges to fight for his seat, they are of the more centrist variety. Senator Martinez, this is the first thing you've said or done politically that's made me happy!
he was ready for retirement years ago..florida is getting their karma back big time
He will run for Prez in 2012. He has a Hispanic last name, white skin, and enough national level experience to make him viable. He is the pander-to-Hispanic candidate that won't alienate the GOP old guard.
Is he stepping down to allow Jeb Bush to run for Senate?
THANKS BE TO ALMIGHTY GOD. FINALLY THEY ARE LIVING!!!!
Florida does not want him back where is he going now
Next 8 years of his life...? Senators only serve for six. Maybe he will be appointed to a position in the Obama administration.
lets us reward castro – he did so much good to cuba! Lift the embargo – JFK would be happy!