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| Senate minority leader Harry Reid to step down after three decades | Senate minority leader Harry Reid to step down after three decades |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Senate Democratic minority leader, Harry Reid, announced on Friday he will not seek re-election in 2016, ending a congressional career that spanned three decades. | The Senate Democratic minority leader, Harry Reid, announced on Friday he will not seek re-election in 2016, ending a congressional career that spanned three decades. |
| The Nevada senator, who has served as Democratic leader in the upper house since 2005, cited serious injuries that left his vision impaired after a January exercise accident at his home in his decision. | The Nevada senator, who has served as Democratic leader in the upper house since 2005, cited serious injuries that left his vision impaired after a January exercise accident at his home in his decision. |
| “This accident has caused Landra and I to have a little down time. I have had time to ponder and to think,” Reid said in a video posted to his YouTube page. | “This accident has caused Landra and I to have a little down time. I have had time to ponder and to think,” Reid said in a video posted to his YouTube page. |
| “We’ve got to be more concerned about the country, the Senate, the state of Nevada than about ourselves. And as a result of that I’m not going to run for re-election.” | “We’ve got to be more concerned about the country, the Senate, the state of Nevada than about ourselves. And as a result of that I’m not going to run for re-election.” |
| “My life’s work has been to make Nevada and our nation better. Thank you for giving me that wonderful opportunity,” he added. | “My life’s work has been to make Nevada and our nation better. Thank you for giving me that wonderful opportunity,” he added. |
| Reid, 75, was a top target for Republicans in the next election cycle and was expected to face a highly contested race. The former boxer said he did not want Democrats to soak up their resources trying to defend his seat as they seek to take back the Senate in 2016. | Reid, 75, was a top target for Republicans in the next election cycle and was expected to face a highly contested race. The former boxer said he did not want Democrats to soak up their resources trying to defend his seat as they seek to take back the Senate in 2016. |
| In a statement, Barack Obama praised Reid as both a close ally and a friend. | In a statement, Barack Obama praised Reid as both a close ally and a friend. |
| “Harry Reid is a fighter. In his five terms as a US senator, Harry has fought for good jobs, a safer environment for our kids, and affordable healthcare for all,” the president said. | “Harry Reid is a fighter. In his five terms as a US senator, Harry has fought for good jobs, a safer environment for our kids, and affordable healthcare for all,” the president said. |
| “He’s never backed down from a tough decision, or been afraid to choose what is right over what is easy. Time and time again, Harry stood up to special interests and made sure every one of his constituents had a voice in their nation’s capital.” | “He’s never backed down from a tough decision, or been afraid to choose what is right over what is easy. Time and time again, Harry stood up to special interests and made sure every one of his constituents had a voice in their nation’s capital.” |
| Obama: "Harry Reid is a fighter." pic.twitter.com/VK353tWKrw | Obama: "Harry Reid is a fighter." pic.twitter.com/VK353tWKrw |
| Reid’s Republican counterpart, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, praised his triumph through the many struggles Reid faced over his lifetime.“Nothing has ever come easily to this son of Searchlight. Underestimated often, his distinctive grit and determined focus nevertheless saw him through many challenges. They continue to make him a formidable opponent today,” McConnell said. | Reid’s Republican counterpart, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, praised his triumph through the many struggles Reid faced over his lifetime.“Nothing has ever come easily to this son of Searchlight. Underestimated often, his distinctive grit and determined focus nevertheless saw him through many challenges. They continue to make him a formidable opponent today,” McConnell said. |
| Reid endorsed New York senator Chuck Schumer as his successor. “I think Schumer should be able to succeed me,” he said, according to the Washington Post. | Reid endorsed New York senator Chuck Schumer as his successor. “I think Schumer should be able to succeed me,” he said, according to the Washington Post. |
| Schumer praised Reid as “one of the best human beings I have ever met”. | Schumer praised Reid as “one of the best human beings I have ever met”. |
| “He has left a major mark on this body, this country, and on so many who have met him, gotten to know him, and love him,” Schumer said. | “He has left a major mark on this body, this country, and on so many who have met him, gotten to know him, and love him,” Schumer said. |
| Dick Durbin, the No 2 Democrat in the Senate, was thought to be the other major contender for Reid’s post. But a spokesman for the Illinois senator said Durbin will instead seek re-election as minority whip and told Schumer late last night that he had his support for leader. | |
| It remains unclear if Washington senator Patty Murray, the fourth-ranking leadership member, will challenge Schumer. A spokesman for Murray did not immediately return a request for comment. | |
| Reid was first elected to the Senate in 1986, after an initial four years in the House of Representatives. | Reid was first elected to the Senate in 1986, after an initial four years in the House of Representatives. |
| A source close to Reid said his decision to retire was initially made around Christmas, before his accident. | A source close to Reid said his decision to retire was initially made around Christmas, before his accident. |
| “If anything the accident made him more likely to run, because that’s the way he is,” the source said. “But after a while, he and Landra settled on his initial decision to retire as the right one. He wants to go out on his terms and on top, especially if the cycle goes our way. He is not thinking about how he feels today, but how he will feel eight years from now.” | “If anything the accident made him more likely to run, because that’s the way he is,” the source said. “But after a while, he and Landra settled on his initial decision to retire as the right one. He wants to go out on his terms and on top, especially if the cycle goes our way. He is not thinking about how he feels today, but how he will feel eight years from now.” |
| Senate terms are six years long. | Senate terms are six years long. |
| Born in the desert mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, Reid was raised in a modest home with no toilet, running water or telephone. Once a middleweight amateur boxer, Reid eventually left his home state to attend law school at George Washington University in Washington, DC. | Born in the desert mining town of Searchlight, Nevada, Reid was raised in a modest home with no toilet, running water or telephone. Once a middleweight amateur boxer, Reid eventually left his home state to attend law school at George Washington University in Washington, DC. |
| While in law school, Reid worked nights as a Capitol police officer in the same hallways he later walked as one of the most influential leaders in Washington. Prior to his election to Congress, Reid was a member of the Nevada assembly and served as the state’s youngest lieutenant governor at 30. He lost his first bid for the US Senate in 1974, but was elected to the House of Representatives six years later. | While in law school, Reid worked nights as a Capitol police officer in the same hallways he later walked as one of the most influential leaders in Washington. Prior to his election to Congress, Reid was a member of the Nevada assembly and served as the state’s youngest lieutenant governor at 30. He lost his first bid for the US Senate in 1974, but was elected to the House of Representatives six years later. |
| “Someone with my background, my upbringing, to have the experiences I’ve had is really a miracle,” Reid said in his retirement video. | “Someone with my background, my upbringing, to have the experiences I’ve had is really a miracle,” Reid said in his retirement video. |
| In the Senate, Reid held the position of Democratic whip from 1999 to 2005, before succeeding South Dakota senator Tom Daschle as leader when the latter lost his re-election bid. In his leadership role, Reid developed a reputation as an astute deal-maker who seldom minced his words. | In the Senate, Reid held the position of Democratic whip from 1999 to 2005, before succeeding South Dakota senator Tom Daschle as leader when the latter lost his re-election bid. In his leadership role, Reid developed a reputation as an astute deal-maker who seldom minced his words. |
| Following Obama’s election in 2008, Reid took on an increasingly combative tone and helped push through Obama’s healthcare law and economic stimulus amid ardent GOP opposition. | Following Obama’s election in 2008, Reid took on an increasingly combative tone and helped push through Obama’s healthcare law and economic stimulus amid ardent GOP opposition. |
| Reid’s politics also shifted to the left over his tenure on high-profile issues such as immigration, gun control and abortion. He controversially changed the rules of the Senate in 2013 by triggering the so-called “nuclear option”, a move that eliminated filibusters for most nominations by presidents and was decried by Republicans who argued it would only exacerbate the broken system in Washington. | Reid’s politics also shifted to the left over his tenure on high-profile issues such as immigration, gun control and abortion. He controversially changed the rules of the Senate in 2013 by triggering the so-called “nuclear option”, a move that eliminated filibusters for most nominations by presidents and was decried by Republicans who argued it would only exacerbate the broken system in Washington. |
| Reid’s tenacious rule over the Senate was the subject of much scrutiny when Democrats lost their majority in the 2014 midterms. In the wake the party’s heavy losses, several red-state Democrats – those from Republican-leaning states – voted against Reid retaining his leadership post in a rare show of disapproval. Even so, Reid was supported by the overwhelmingly majority of his caucus and ran unopposed as minority leader. | Reid’s tenacious rule over the Senate was the subject of much scrutiny when Democrats lost their majority in the 2014 midterms. In the wake the party’s heavy losses, several red-state Democrats – those from Republican-leaning states – voted against Reid retaining his leadership post in a rare show of disapproval. Even so, Reid was supported by the overwhelmingly majority of his caucus and ran unopposed as minority leader. |
| In Nevada, former state attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto is considered a top Democratic contender to seek Reid’s seat. | In Nevada, former state attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto is considered a top Democratic contender to seek Reid’s seat. |
| Reid appeared to throw his support behind Masto in an interview Friday with a local Nevada radio station. “I think it would be hard for her to lose,” Reid said. “I think she’s a favorite, but far from the lock.” | Reid appeared to throw his support behind Masto in an interview Friday with a local Nevada radio station. “I think it would be hard for her to lose,” Reid said. “I think she’s a favorite, but far from the lock.” |
| State senate leader Michael Roberson is a rumored GOP candidate, while several Republicans in Washington have urged the popular Nevada governor Brian Sandoval to run. | State senate leader Michael Roberson is a rumored GOP candidate, while several Republicans in Washington have urged the popular Nevada governor Brian Sandoval to run. |