WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sources close to Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, tell CNN he will announce Monday he is retiring from the Senate.
The 72-year-old senator and former Ohio governor has been contemplating retirement for a while but made his final decision this weekend in Florida, where he was joined by his wife, children and grandchildren, according to one of the sources.
Voinovich plans to serve out his term, which expires in 2010.
He plans to make the announcement at 4 p.m. ET Monday in Washington, the source said.
Voinovich will be the fourth Republican senator to announce he will not run for re-election in 2010. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, said late last week that we would retire, joining Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Florida, and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, who had already announced they would leave Capitol Hill when their terms end at the close of the 111th Congress.
Republicans must defend 15 incumbents and four open seats in 2010. (Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, whose term is not up until 2012, is seriously considering a 2010 gubernatorial bid and could also be vacating her seat early).
Meanwhile, Democrats have to defend 15 incumbents and two seats where special elections are expected to be held. In Delaware, a special election will be scheduled for Vice President-elect Joe Biden's seat as well as a special election in New York should Hillary Clinton be confirmed as the next Secretary of State.
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
that is ok
That is one of the drawbacks to being the party of old white men. Keep em coming boys!
So long. You won't be missed.
Thank you Senator Voinovich for your wonderful service to the State of Ohio as Governor and as our Senator. You will be missed and should always be proud of the job you did!!!
Another Bush apologist jumps off the sinking ship which is our country. Republicans should have to pay a special tax for the next 60 years as reparations for the long lasting damage they have done to our country.
Good. He has blood on his hands and he'll have to live with that for the rest of his days.
Good riddance! While Clinton was president, Senator Voinovich was such a supporter of Serbian aggression and persecution of Muslims and Catholics that it was disgusting. Putting the interests of one's ethnic group ahead of America is treasonous. In the very least, he should have been expelled from the Senate. However, the ultra-partisan, criminal Republicans in Congress would never have given it a thought. It was much for fun for them to go after Clinton for having an extramarital affair. To them, the only Muslims worth defending are those that come from petroleum-producing lands. For such places they are quite happy to provide your sons and daughters as cannon fodder. Just like the ballooning federal debt–it is only a problem when a Democrat is in the White House. If its a fudgin' Republican, spend away, especially for war!
Good Ridance-who really cares!
How many freezers full of cash does he have?
Good riddance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How nice to get rid of the republicans and the conservative opinions they profess!
let some more of the old people retire and turn their seats over to the younger generation.
Three special elections for the Dems, genius. I believe Obama is a Senator. There will be a special election there, too. Seriously, what do they pay you for?
The fewer republicans the better....drop the toilet seat on your way out.
Bye!
It's good to get out while you can.If you don't you can bet someone will investigate you just because they can.
Good, all these guys that have been in office for eons should retire. If we had term limits on congress and the senate, we wouldn't have a bunch of 65+ year olds using a public service job like a corporate job.
Used to think Voinovich was a bad governor until Bob Taft got elected. Gained more respect for Voinovich when I found out he didnt think much of George Bush.....then when I found out he wanted us out of Iraq I really started to like the guy. I'm not in his party and never voted for him either time as governor or for US Senator, but I can say I now respect the guy....and that's more than I can say for most in Washington.
Another victim of Bush – he has to quit because he'd get stomped in the election!
He should have resigned after the first time he burst into tears- what a legacy.
Finally.
As an Ohio resident I will be the first to say that old George never did a thing for Ohio in his life except be a stooge for old W.
He should resign now and do the whole state a favor.
I imagine that the House retirements will be even more profound in 2010. At least, in the Senate, being in the minority still provides members with power and influence. In the House, being in the minority equates to zero power and zero influence, especially now that Speaker Pelosi is hardening the rules of the institution to consolidate her power base.
Pray for Obama and his team! They have such a mess to clean up after these guys leave!!!
get all the relics out by 2012
Watch the rats abandon the Republican ship.