Insider sources are saying this morning that Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan will announce today that he will not not seek re-election this fall. He is expected to have a news conference later this morning to officially announce his intentions.
Had Stupak run for re-election, he would have faced challenges from just about every direction. By first threatening to derail health care reform over unfounded abortion concerns, then backing off and voting to pass the bill, Stupak pretty much did a little to anger everyone. I think he was trying to be everybody’s hero, but instead ended making enemies on all sides.
I hadn’t been following his race very closely, so I’m not sure what his chances looked like for re-election, but his bowing out now makes me think he was not very confident. I guess we’ll have to look at this one a bit closer now. Either way, we won’t have Bart to kick around much longer.