The National Republican Congressional Committee has been trying to get 14-term incumbent Rick Boucher (D, VA-09) to retire, but he disappointed them today:
“I am planning to seek reelection. I have given no consideration to retiring,” Boucher said in a statement Wednesday. “While I never make political announcements this early in the year, due to the press inquires we are receiving, it is time to remove any doubt anyone has about my intentions.”
Holding this R+11 district would be a challenge if the seat opened up, but most election forecasters don’t expect Boucher to have any trouble.
If Republicans do recruit a prominent challenger to run in this district, Boucher’s vote for the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act last June will probably become a major issue in the campaign. Coal interests are big employers in Boucher’s district. He backed the climate change bill after securing amendments to make sure that coal usage would continue to grow between now and 2020 even if the bill became law.
And a big one at that. Open Left is showing two polls that give generic Republicans a lead over generic Democrats for the House. One by a point, the other by 5. A comparable recent election would be 2002 (off year, Republicans won by 4.6%).
Thanks, Rick Boucher and thanks desmonesdem.
And thank you for reporting it to us.
http://www.swingstateproject.c…
Boucher actually seems to have been dropped off the watch list back on Dec 16. http://www.swingstateproject.c…
But it never hurts to get a re-confirmation from these politicians.