22 House Republicans and three Republican senators plan to retire at the end of the year

[packman]

By comparison, only nine House Democrats and not a single Senate Democrat have announced plans to retire at the end of the 115th Congress, which concludes in early January 2019. Several Democrats — most notably, former senator Al Franken — have resigned already from Congress but still fewer than the Republican total. In addition, a dozen Republican House members are running for either governor or the Senate. Only seven Democrats are doing the same.

The practical effect is that Democrats have more opportunities in the 2018 elections. Open seats are usually harder to defend than those held by incumbents


https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2018/02/the-effect-of-congressional-retirement/

[BoneyardDem]

1. Senator Sanders, a Democrat apparently just announce a retirement

according to another thread on DU. He's from Alabama

[rsdsharp]

2. I believe he's a state senator.

[BoneyardDem]

3. yah, you are right

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10902109

Alabama's longest-serving state senator says he has decided to step aside in favor of his daughter.

Senator Hank Sanders announced Saturday that he will not be seeking a 10th term in office. He says his daughter, Malika Sanders-Fortier, will run in his place for the Senate District 23 seat, which covers the Selma area.

[Hortensis]

4. Yes! Overall, 38 house Republicans are vacating seats,

12 running for others but without the same incumbent advantage. We have to pick up...24? to have a majority?