Thread: John Kyl To Retire.

Kyl to retire, won't seek another term

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl will announce he won't seek another term at a press conference in his home state Thursday morning, POLITICO has learned.

The third-term Kyl was first elected to the Senate in 1994.

A GOP operative notes that the last time Arizona elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate was 1988 -- 22 years ago.


http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcata ... tire_.html

Is this a bad thing?

He has been an amnesty supporter at times

Losing Kyl won't be a huge loss.

Is it just me on hyper alert noticing how many of them are retiring lately or have I missed it in the past? I'm sure it's commone for SOME to retire, but it sure seems like lately that a lot of them seem to know a big storm is coming and they want no part of it....?

More info on Kyl retirement.

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl will announce Thursday that he is not running for reelection in 2012.

The second-ranking Republican in the Senate is expected to make the announcement at 12 p.m. ET from his home state of Arizona.

A source close to the senator confirms to POLITICO that Kyl has decided not to run for a fourth term. His departure opens up a major GOP leadership slot.

Kyl, who is 68, is Arizona’s junior senator, serving alongside former GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.

Though Kyl has brought in strong victories in recent elections, his retirement could also put the Arizona seat in reasonable grasp of a Democrat. Before she was injured in a shooting last month, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat, was considered a possible candidate for the seat, especially if Kyl were to retire.

A GOP operative notes that the last time Arizona elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate was 1988 — 22 years ago. Another Republican named six-term Rep. Jeff Flake as a top contender to run for Kyl’s seat.

Kyl becomes the fifth senator and second Republican to retire ahead of the 2012 cycle.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49238.html