The Washington Post brings us news of the latest senator to announce that he won’t seek another term:
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is retiring rather than seek re-election in 2014, according to two senior Democratic strategists familiar with his plans. First elected in 1978, Baucus has been the top Democrat on the powerful committee since 2001. The likely Democratic candidate to succeed him would be former governor Brian Schweitzer, sources said.
NBC News and others have confirmed the story. President Obama garnered only 42 percent of the Montana vote last year, making the state a major pick-up opportunity for Republicans next year. Baucus is the sixth Democratic senator to announce his impending retirement during this term, joining Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Carl Levin of Michigan, and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey in exiting the 2014 race.
