Washington (CNN) – Arizona Republican Rep. John Shadegg is retiring from Congress, a GOP source confirmed to CNN Thursday.
The story was first reported by The Rothenberg Political Report.
Shadegg, who was first elected in the 1994 GOP landslide, is the third Republican to announce retirement plans, following Rep. George Radanovich of California and South Carolina Rep. Henry Brown.
It's not the first time Shadegg has decided to call it quits: He announced he would not run for re-election in Feb. 2008, but was encouraged to run again by his colleagues.
Shadegg's district is reliably conservative. In 2008, John McCain won the district over Barack Obama by a 56-42 margin.
UPDATE: In a statement, Shadegg called his decision "particularly hard" but said "it is time for me to take my life in a new direction and to pursue my commitment to fight for freedom in a different venue."
"As the Obama Administration and Speaker Pelosi grow further and further out of touch with average Americans, evidence continues to build that 2010 will be a record year for Republicans running for Congress," he said in the statement. "And, I am extremely confident that the people of the Third District of Arizona will elect a solid conservative."
UPDATE 2: Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said he is pleased Shadegg finally followed through on his original retirement plans.
"Now we are assuming that he really is retiring," Van Hollen laughingly told CNN's Dana Bash.
Van Hollen noted that 14 House Republicans have announced plans not to run again in 2010 either to retire or seek higher office. Just 11 House Democrats have done so, he said.
From CNN Politics
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Clearly Shadegg didn't want to be beaten like an old drum. Now the [R]s will have an excuse as to why they lost a 'red' district. That district must be waking-up to the huge mistake they almost made by putting Mr. McGoo and Queen Trailer Trash in the WH.
Good, we need new people with new ideas in Washington!!
Oh my God, its a landslide of Republicans jumping off of the boat! At least that is what the headline would have said if it was a Democrat.
Oh, CNN. The Repugs are dropping like flies. Right? That's what you headlines about the Dems last week!!
Hey Rep Shadegg,
Maybe you can take that looser, John McCain with you. Yeah, you know who I'm talking about: Mr. "Country First", who as a 70 year-old cancer survivor thought nothing of putting an unvetted ninny wacko on his ticket as VP just to drum up the Conservative vote.
Interviewed by Matt Lour recently he said he could "care less" of how Palin was vetted.
That's right, McCain: "Campaign First" screw the country!
Just retire the whole party. It can't do anything, but say "NO!"
americans are sick to death of loosing jobs,,,, the democrats are going to get hammer if they dont do something about no jobs,, trust me i dont care what party is in powere,,, its about jobs stupid....
If you tax the rich, how are they going to create all of those jobs in China and India? Have a nice day!
"And another one bites the dust" And by the way, Shadegg, this "average American" thinks that it's your party that's "out of touch".
Time for new Republican blood... not the old guys.
Right on, REG!
Of course all the RepubliKlans are retiring. They understand the party of NO has had its day.
Very mature, Van Hollen.
It won't matter....at the rate Obama is screwing up the country I wouldn't be surprised if republicans swept the entire election...every single race. Anybody with any sense at all can see how bad democrats are. They should never be allowed into office again.
Hey Rep Shadegg,
Maybe you can take that looser, John McCain with you. Sen. McCain is no friend of America's Veterans. For years he prevented the GI Bill from having any real meaning, sent our troops into both wars without a single MRAP vehicle knowing full well the Taliban would use IED's against our troops.
After McCain confessed to a number of war crimes on video under torture, he later states statements made under torture are admissible in America's courts! What about your confessions Sen. McCain, you are a hypocrite and a disgusting individual that fiends himself as a friend of Veterans while working against them.
Its about Time, Your Chin is dragging along with the rear !
one down – mccain to go if the citizens of AZ are smarter than they have been iin the past elections.
If you don't understant what a self righteous individual mccain is as he showed during the 2008 election, then I don't know what else it takes.
To Vic of NY we have an unvetted ninny in the office now
I'm loving it! there goes another angry old man!!. The youth is the future of this Great Nation!!!!
I pledge to myself and to all mighty God That I will never vote for a Republican as long as i am alive no matter who is running.
The Democrats will get my vote only if they control their spending habits and the government expension while on power and I will have to evaluate them every four or two years.
1 less Corporate Driven GOP Hack in government is Great news. These People's soul purpose is to block any Legislation that would benefit the Average American. Vote them all out before they take us totally down the craper. THANKS
All republicans should "retire" or be voted out. I have a ten month old nephew that can can say "NO".
Geezy peezy there are almost 1/3 more republicans retiring and the GOP has the nerve to say WHEN TWO DEMOCRATS say they are retiring, that they are dropping like flies.
Both of the Democrats have long long service in congress and to add to that Dodd is suffering from cancer. So what's wrong with them retiring. Course, the republicans will use any excuse to pan, gee a mouse just ran across the floor, pan the democrats for that why don't cha.....
YOU BETCHA YOU BETCHA YOU BETCHA YOU BETCHA IN THE WORDS OF THE AIR BRAIN.
Bren – if you want illegals out, why haven't your republican representatives done anything about it for the last 20 years?
Don't forget people, Newt was the architect and chief enforcer of the incredibly divisive, winner-take-all, scorched earth tactics the neocons practiced so excruciatingly during the "Republican Revolution" and all the way to 2006 and beyond. Remember, Newt was the twisted little conservative Quasimodo that rang the death knell on partisan politics.
Now he wants to reassert his failed leadership over a party he helped ideologically bankrupt to the extent that it can't evolve (I know, I know, right-wingers don't believe in evolution) past its antediluvian extremist ideals. Well, I've SEEN the results of his work – no thanks.