The Note

Fourth Senate GOPer to Retire in 2010

January 12, 2009 10:07 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich plans to retire from the United States Senate in 2010, according to a Republican familiar with his plans.

Voinovich is the fourth Republican senator to announce he will not run for re-election in 2010.

Missouri Sen. Kit Bond said late last week that we would retire from the Senate in 2010 joining Florida Sen. Mel Martinez and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. Brownback, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, is retiring from the Senate so that he can run for governor of the Sunflower State.

Republicans must defend 15 incumbents and four open seats in 2010. Democrats have to defend 15 incumbents and two seats where special elections are expected to be held.

Voinovich plans to make his retirement announcement on camera during a 4:00 pm ET press conference on Capitol Hill.

During his long political career in Ohio, Voinovich served as United States senator, governor, Cleveland mayor, lieutenant governor, Cuyahoga County commissioner, Cuyahoga County auditor, and member of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Now that Voinovich plans to retire, G.O.P. sources think the most likely Republican nominee for Senate in Ohio in 2010 will be Rob Portman, a former congressman from the Cincinnati suburbs who served as director of the Office of Management under President Bush.

Portman was frequently mentioned as a possible running mate for John McCain last year. John Kasich, a former Ohio congressman, is expected by Republican sources in Washington to run for governor rather than going up against Portman for Senate.

On the Democratic side, the top Senate contenders are expected to be Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and a couple members of the state's House delegation including Tim Ryan and Zach Space.

UPDATE: Voinovich Paper Statement on Retirement Decision

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, has released a paper statement explaining his decision not to seek re-election in 2010. The Ohio Republican says that if he were to seek a third term, the task of raising money and campaigning would prevent him over the next two years from devoting his full time and energy to seeing the U.S. through "these harrowing times."

After prayerful consideration and much thought, my wife Janet and I have decided that I will not seek a third term in the United States Senate.

As I spent time with my family during the holidays and celebrated Janet’s birthday, I reflected on God’s blessings on our family:  my wife, our three children, our seven grandchildren and our health.

I also spent time thinking about the health of our country.  In my lifetime of public service, I have never seen the country in such perilous circumstances.  Not since the Great Depression and the Second World War have we been confronted with such challenges, as a nation and as a world.

Those of us that have been given the honor to serve in these times must step up to the plate and put this country on a course that will see it through these harrowing times and make it strong and viable for the 21st century.

These next two years in office, for me, will be the most important years that I have served in my entire political career.

I must devote my full time, energy and focus to the job I was elected to do, the job in front of me, which seeking a third term – with the money-raising and campaigning that it would require – would not allow me to do.

In addition, Janet and I have concluded that once my second term is complete, we should devote ourselves to our children and grandchildren.  We have been blessed with good health, but we’re no spring chickens.  In 2010, I will be 74 years old and will have served 44 years in public office, having been elected to more public offices than any other person in Ohio history.

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have had to serve my statehouse district, my county, city, state and nation and feel good about the fact that with the help of some extraordinary people, many of whom are no longer with us, I have made a difference and will, with God’s help and a great team in my Senate office, continue to make a difference during these next two critical years.  We intend not to wind down—but to wind up, just like I did in the Mayor’s office as well as the Governor’s office.

We have a great deal to do in this Congress, and I will continue to focus on the areas that matter most: providing the nation a responsible stimulus package; jump-starting our credit markets; re-establishing confidence in the housing market and stemming the tide on mortgage foreclosures; harmonizing our nation’s economic, energy and environmental policies; ensuring safe and stable highways; and continuing to improve the personnel and management of the federal government.

After the next two years, it will be time to give someone else the opportunity to serve our great state in the Senate, someone who can devote full time to organizing their campaign and raising the money necessary to win.

This has not been an easy decision for us. I still have the fire in my belly to do the work of our nation, but after serving the next two years, it will be time to step back and spend the rest of our time with our children and grandchildren, siblings and extended family and friends.

We both are confident that God has a plan for us to use the time, energy and talents that He has given us to make a difference in another way.