Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Dorgan to retire
The chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Aviation Subcommittee Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced this morning that he will not seek re-election, meaning one of the most knowledgeable aviation legislators will leave his post at the end of this year.
The announcement came as a surprise in Washington since Dorgan, who has been on the Hill for 30 years and who is now 67, had been preparing for another for what he thought would be an easy re-election battle and another six-year term. However, over the holidays, he struggled whether another seven years in the Senate "was the right thing to do."
"Although I still have a passion for public service and enjoy my work in the Senate, I have other interests and I have other things I would like to pursue outside of public life," he said in his statement. "I have written two books and have an invitation from a publisher to write two more books. I would like to do some teaching and would also like to work on energy policy in the private sector. But I feel that after serving 30 years, I want to make time for some other priorities. And making a commitment to serve in the Senate for the next seven years does not seem like the right decision for me." Dorgan served six terms in the House of Representatives before beginning his Senate career.
The move means Democrats will have to defend four seats of its 60-seat super majority which it struggles to hold together with each vote. Also, yesterday, Democratic powerhouse Chris Dodd announced his retirement. Seven Republicans have already announced plans to join Dorgan in retirement.