(ConservativeInsider.org) – Since 1974, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has been a common face in the US Senate and has earned the title of the longest-serving Democrat in the upper chamber. However, the career politician just announced he will not seek reelection in 2022 and will instead enjoy retirement with his wife, Marcelle.
On Monday, November 15, Leahy officially announced his decision to retire from the Senate, making him the first Democratic Senator up for reelection in 2022 to make such a choice. However, during his career, Vermont shifted from a Republican base to quite the progressive state, making it very likely another Democrat will be able to win his seat.
CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju shared more from Leahy’s departure statement:
#Breaking — Sen. Patrick Leahy, 81, fifth-longest-serving senator in history and president pro tempore of the Senate, announces in Vermont he's retiring from the seat he's held for 46 years. "It's time to put down the gavel. It's time to pass the torch to the next Vermonter."
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 15, 2021
The other Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders, is only one year younger than Leahy, but has already filed to run for reelection in 2024. For now, many experts believe Vermont’s current House Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) will try to replace Leahy in the Senate and allow someone else to run for his House seat.
Over Leahy’s lengthy career, people knew him for his ability to get along with lawmakers even across the aisle, something few lawmakers of younger generations have been able to grasp. Yet, with his retirement, the Democratic party will have to push hard to keep his seat blue in order to save their current 50-50 split in the Senate.
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