Retirements in Congress

In late December 2008 Burris was appointed by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) to replace President Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. Allegations surfaced shortly after his appointment that abbreviated his stint in Washington. Lacking support from top Democrats, Burris announced in July 2009 that he would not seek reelection in 2010.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by Obama

In the face of increasing unpopularity and a report that showed Dodd receiving favorable treatment from Countrywide Financial, the five-term Senator announced in January 2010 he would not seek reelection. Dodd held the top position on the Senate Banking Committee, where he played a crucial role in crafting the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package known as the Trouble Assets Relief Program (TARP) and spearheaded the drive for financial regulatory reform following the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by Obama

Dorgan left a big hole for Senate Democrats when he announced his retirement, opening up the possibility of Republicans replacing him. During his 17-year Senate tenure, he has remained popular in North Dakota by demanding that the government strengthen trade and banking laws to protect consumers. A staunch advocate of fiscal responsibility, Dorgan has lobbied against free trade and deregulation.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by McCain

Gov. Ruth Ann Minner appointed Kaufman to replace then-Senator Joseph R. Biden just two weeks after Biden was elected vice president. Kaufman ran the Biden's Senate office for 19 years, served as a top adviser during the 2008 presidential campaign and was co-chairman of his vice presidential transition team. Kaufman's selection has been criticized as a back-door effort to keep the seat open for the Vice President's son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden (D). Beau Biden has announced he will not run for Senate, leaving the seat open to a Republican challenge.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by Obama

Bayh, the son of a former senator, has won statewide election four times in a Midwestern state that voted to send a Republican to the White House ten times in a row. During Bayh's shocking announcement, he cited "too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving," as his primary reason for not seeking reelection. With his seat now vacant, Democrats are looking at possibility of losing their majority in the Senate.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by Obama

Bond is a former governor of Missouri and sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was a staunch defender of the wartime policies of President George W. Bush, particularly domestic wiretapping and is the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by McCain

Despite having seats on the Senate’s Budget, Finance, and Banking committees and his criticism of the Federal Reserve, Bunning, a major-league baseball Hall of Famer, is more likely to be remembered for two slim wins in Senate races and his campaign-trail antics. Bunning announced in July 2009 that he wouldn't seek re-election, blaming Senate GOP leaders for drying up his fundraising.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by McCain

Gregg has been a vocal critic of policies pushed by his Democratic colleagues since they regained Senate in 2006. President Obama selected Gregg as his Commerce Department secretary in 2009. But shortly after accepting the nomination, Gregg withdrew his name, citing "irresolvable conflicts" on key policy positions. Gregg wrote a letter to Obama in February offering to help broker a compromise on health-care legislation.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by Obama

A moderate Republican known for an independent streak, Voinovich came out against the Iraq War after initially voting in favor of it and has opposed tax cuts in the face of budget deficits. He replaced Sen. John Glenn (D) in 1998 and was re-elected to the Senate in 2004 with 64 percent of the vote. On not seeking reelection, Voinovich said the problems facing Ohio and the rest of the country were too serious for him to take time away to campaign.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by Obama

Brownback has become a leader of America’s religious right, balancing socially conservative positions of opposition to abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage with humanitarian stances. In 2008, his hopes of becoming the second man elected president on a “compassionate conservative” platform ended after he gained the support of just 3 percent of Republicans. He is running for governor in Kansas.

• 2008 presidential race: State won by McCain

Baird first entered the House in 1998. He currently serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Science and Technology Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. Baird had been re-elected with more than 60 percent of the vote despite the fact that then President George W. Bush carried the seat in 2000 and 2004.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Gordon is a Democrat from middle Tennessee which is increasingly shifting towards the GOP. He has been a member of Congress since 1984 and currently serves as Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee. He is also a senior member of House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Republican party has actively and aggressively recruited candidates for his seat.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Moore is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition and the House Financial Services Committee, serving as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Although the GOP did not target Moore's seat as much as others around the country, with his exit, the Republicans are now zeroing in on his district.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Tanner is a co-founder of the Blue Dog Coalition and is considered a leader in the fight for fiscal responsibility. He has represented Tennessee's 8th District since 1989. Even though Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won the district with 56 percent of the vote in 2008, Tanner has not faced any serious opposition for his seat. He currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Ways and Means Committee, where he chairs the Social Security Subcommittee.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

A native of Oregon, Snyder has represented Arkansas in the House of Representatives since 1997. In 2007, he became chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and serves on three Congressional committees: the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the House Armed Services Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Berry, another member of the Blue Dog Coalition, first came to Washington as a Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton for Agricultural Trade and Food Assistance in 1993. Berry was first elected to the House in 1996. In 2003, Berry was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee and serves on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Energy and Water, and Transportation subcommittees.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Born in Los Angeles, Watson became the first African-American woman to be elected to the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. She also served in the California State Senate and as United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. Watson has been reelected by huge margins since she first took the seat in a 2001 special election. While many Democratic vacancies are seen as Republican pick-ups, Watson's seat is expected to remain in the Democratic column.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Kennedy announced his resignation just months after his father, legendary Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, passed away. The younger Kennedy has easily held Rhode Island's 1st district since 1994. Over the years he has experienced a number of personal problems including a stint in rehab during the summer of 2009. With Kennedy's retirement, it will be the first time in five-decades that there will not be a member of the Kennedy family in Congress. While there have been attempts by Republicans to go after Kennedy's seat, it is expected to remain Democratic.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Wexler announced in 2009 that he would resign to head a think tank that pursues peace in the Middle East. As a passionate defender of President Bill Clinton during the 1998 impeachment process, Wexler became a cable-TV star and Democratic hero. This enthusiasm continued in 2000 when he became a critic of the presidential election recount in Florida. Since joining the House, Wexler has been an adamant supporter of Israel. Wexler's Boca Raton-based 19th district stands almost no chance of changing parties.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Massa's decision not to seek re-election creates an open seat in a very competitive New York congressional district. His 29th district, which includes towns like Elmira and Corning in the state's southern tier, went for Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) by a 51 percent to 48 percent margin in 2008 but George W. Bush carried it by 14 points in 2004.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Delahunt's 10th district, which includes much of the territory south and east of Boston -- as well as Cape Cod and Nantucket -- went for Sen. Scott Brown in his Senate special election in early 2010, and went for Mitt Romney in his run for governor in 2002. Delahunt's retirement had been rumored for months and Republicans, buoyed by Brown's victory, are increasingly optimistic about the candidacy of former state Treasurer Joe Malone.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Sources familiar with Stupak's thinking describe him as burned out from the long fight over health care in which he emerged as the leading voice of pro-life Democrats wary about the possibility that the legislation would allow federal funds to be spent on abortions. Stupak eventually voted for the final bill after Obama signed an executive order re-affirming the idea that no funds from the legislation would go toward abortions. In the wake of that vote he was treated as a hero within the Democratic caucus but the reaction toward him from activists on the right and left was significantly more vitriolic. Former Charlevoix County Commissioner Connie Saltonstall has announced she will take on Stupak in the state's Aug. 3 primary. Stupak's seat, which takes in much of northern Michigan's Upper Peninsula, will be a major takeover target for Republicans. Obama carried with with 50 percent in 2008 but George W. Bush won the district in 2000 and 2004.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.), a liberal lion first elected at the height of the Vietnam War in 1969, will not seek re-election in November -- a blow to Democratic chances of holding his northern Wisconsin seat. Obey, whose committee gavel gives him oversight of more than $1 trillion in annual federal spending, was facing his toughest re-election battle in years, as Ashland County District Attorney Sean Duffy (R) was running a promising campaign against him.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Abercrombie is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. In March 2009, he announced his candidacy for governor of Hawaii in 2010. Abercrombie and Wexler are resigning before their terms are up. His campaign has already received endorsements from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Seafarers' International Union and the American Federation of Teachers, among others.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

A member of the Ways and Means Committee, Davis is one of one of the most popular political figures in Alabama. He ran unopposed in 2006 and 2008, and received the largest total popular vote cast in any Congressional primary in the country. Davis has won a variety of honors including being selected by Esquire Magazine as one of the 10 best Congressmen in America. In June 2009, Davis announced he is running for governor of Alabama in 2010.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Hodes was part of the 2006 Democratic sweep of the Granite State's House delegation. In February 2009, Hodes declared he is running for Sen. Judd Gregg's (R) seat following months of speculation. Hodes appears to be the Democratic frontrunner to replace Gregg in the Senate in 2010.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

The son of ex-Rep. Carrie Meek (D-Fla.), Meek rose from the state senate to Congress after his mother's retirement. Meek is running for the seat of former Sen. Mel Martinez (R) in 2010. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and former state Assembly Speaker Marco Rubio are fighting for the GOP nomination. This race will be one of the most watched Senate contests in the country 2010.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

A fiscal conservative, Melancon has been a leader in the Blue Dog Coalition fighting for responsible budgets and to reduce the national debt. Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita tore through his coastal district in 2005, Melancon has fought for hurricane protection for all of south Louisiana and to restore the disappearing coastal wetlands. He is challenging Republican incumbent Sen. David Vitter in 2010.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Despite public opposition from Democrats, Sestak is challenging Sen. Arlen Specter (D) in the 2010 primary. Sestak has been endorsed by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.). Sestak spent 31 years in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of three-star Admiral. He served in President Blill Clinton's White House as the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council and after Sept. 11, he was selected to serve as the first Director of "Deep Blue," the Navy's anti-terrorism unit.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Ellsworth has announced that he will seek the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Evan Bayh. Handsome, telegenic and with the sort of voting record that makes him a viable statewide candidate in conservative-minded Indiana, Ellsworth is seen as a recruiting coup for the Democrats who were caught off guard by Bayh's decision not to seek reelection. Assuming Ellsworth is the Senate pick, he leaves behind a very difficult district for Democrats to hold in southern Indiana. President Obama lost Ellsworth's 8th district by only four points in 2008, but President George W. Bush carried it with 62 percent in 2004.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Brown sits on the House Natural Resources, Veteran's Affairs and Transportation & Infrastructure committees. He has used his seat on Transportation to bring millions in highway funds to his district, which runs along the coast of South Carolina. He easily won re-election his first three times, but in 2008 faced a difficult challenge from Linda Ketner (D), who he defeated by four points.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Radanovich was born in the Sierra foothills community of Mariposa. His observation of a microclimate in Mariposa led him to pioneer grape growing to the area in 1982. He later opened the region’s first winery and was the first full-time winemaker to serve in Congress since Thomas Jefferson. He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is ranking member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

From the Republican class of 1994, Shadegg has remained a consistent -- and quirky -- conservative; every year, he introduces the Enumerated Powers Act requiring Congress to state a constitutional justification for its legislative actions (a measure that has never passed but was incorporated into the 1997 House rules). Shadegg has also led Republican opposition to President Obama’s health-care plans.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Diaz-Balart has held the heavily Cuban-American 21st district since 1992 when it was created in redistricting following the 1990 census. He had few competitive races but in 2008 Democrats targeted him to no avail as Diaz-Balart won easily 58 percent to 42 percent. The seat -- thanks to the Republican lean of most Cuban Americans -- favors the GOP.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Ehlers was first elected to Congress in 1993 in a special election. He has said that lawmakers on Capitol Hill still call it "Jerry Ford's seat." Former President Gerald R. Ford held the office for 25 years. Extenuating circumstances likely played a role in Ehlers' decision. His wife Johanna suffered a heart attack in early 2010 and conservative state Rep. Justin Amash had announced plans to challenge Ehlers in a primary.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

During his career, Buyer (pronounced Boo-yer) has served in the United States Army as a Staff Judge Advocate during the Gulf War, was a House Impeachment Manager in the prosecution of President Bill Clinton before the U.S. Senate and has served as chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He was also one of the five architects of the Medicare Prescription Drug Card.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Brown-Waite's east-central Florida district was once considered quite competitive. But a redrawing of the district lines in 2001 made the 5th far more Republican-friendly and Brown Waite defeated then Rep. Karen Thurman (D) by a 48 percent to 46 percent margin the following year.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Blunt became the House Majority Whip earlier in his career than any member of Congress in the last eight decades and also served as Majority Leader. Before coming to Congress, Blunt was Missouri’s first Republican Secretary of State in more than 50 years, and served as the president of Southwest Baptist University. He is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (R).

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Castle, a former governor of Delaware, is currently serving a record ninth term as Delaware's lone Member in the House. He is seeking Vice President Joseph R. Biden's old Senate seat in 2010 in what was expected to be a hotly-contested race against Biden's son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden (D). The younger Biden has since decided not to run, making Castle the frontrunner for the seat.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

Deal is a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and serves as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health. Deal, origininally elected as a Democrat in 1992, switched parties in April 1995. He is seeking the governorship of Georgia in 2010.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Fallin became lieutenant governor of Oklahoma in 1995 -- the first woman and the first Republican to hold the post in the state's history. In 2006, she won election to the House seat being vacated by former Rep. Ernest Istook (R). In March 2009, Fallin announced that she would run for the Oklahoma governorship in 2010, a post being vacated by Gov. Brad Henry (D). The field of candidates includes another Republican and two Democrats.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Elected on the strength of his military background in the aftermath of 9/11, Barrett has constructed a reputation as a straight-laced, principled, uncompromising conservative -- an image he’s hoping will make him South Carolina’s next governor. In six years, Barrett has established one of the most conservative voting records in the House, especially on social issues. Barrett is in a toss-up for the GOP nomination with his likely opponents.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

After Republicans took a drubbing in the 2008 election, many turned to Hoekstra, a fiercely fiscal and social conservative to help change the tarnished image of his party’s leadership. One one hand, Hoekstra was pulled toward running for House minority leader. On the other, toward a 2010 bid to succeed term-limited Michigan Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Hoekstra ultimately chose to he seek the governorship.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Now in his fifth term, Kirk is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and is co-chairman of the moderate GOP Tuesday Group and the bipartisan House US-China Working Group. In 2010 he faces Democratic state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias in a GOP quest to re-take President Barack Obama's old Senate seat.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by Obama

As a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. A former banker, Moran opposed President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind program despite his historically conservative voting record. He is running against fellow GOP Rep. Todd Tiahrt to fill Sen. Sam Brownback's (R) seat. Early indications however, show Moran may face a steep uphill battle.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Putnam's meteoric rise has been derailed -- at least for now. The once rising GOP star announced in early 2009 that he will leave Washington to run for agriculture commissioner in Florida. Buoyed by his friendship with former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Putnam was named House GOP Conference chairman in 2006. But his rise was stopped in its tracks after House Republicans lost more than 22 seats in the 2008 elections.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Over the years, Tiahrt (pronounced TEE-hart), a solidly conservative, energetic and “tenacious” politician has wielded his power on the House Appropriations Committee to secure millions of dollars for his home district of Wichita, Kan., and the surrounding area. Tiahrt is running to replace Sen. Sam Brownback (R) in 2010. He has already secured a crucial endorsement from anti-abortion rights group Kansans for Life.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Wamp announced his candidacy for Tennessee governor in January 2009 and if elected, he could replace Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) as the country’s most visible libertarian. He is known for his bipartisanship and he is a charismatic conservative true to the party’s roots. Wamp is a strong gubernatorial contender in Tennessee and, if elected, his willingness to work with Democrats could provide Republicans with a model for going forward.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Diaz-Balart is the founder and co-chairman of the Everglades Caucus, a group dedicated to Everglades restoration and conservation. A Broward County native, he is is giving up his 25th district seat in Florida to run in for the 21st district seat being vacated by his brother -- retiring Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R).

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain

Boozman was first elected in a special election in November 2001. He is a reliable conservative who has sponsored bills to abolish the tax code and display the Ten Commandments in the House and Senate. Still, he has shown a willingness to break with his party in opposing President George W. Bush's immigration reform measure and supporting importing prescription drugs from Canada. He is running for Senate in 2010.

• 2008 presidential race: District won by McCain