Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid announced Friday that after months of contemplation, he has decided to retire next year, bringing an end to a three-decade congressional career.
"I want to be able to go out at the top of my game," said Reid, 75, reported The New York Times. "I don't want to be a 42-year-old trying to become a designated hitter."
He suffered serious eye and facial injuries in a New Year's Day exercise accident in his Las Vegas home, but says that his decision to retire has nothing to do with the accident or his demotion to minority leader following a Republican takeover of Congress in November's midterm elections.
Though he was seemingly deciding against another bid for office, he told Politico in February that he was 100 percent committed to running again.
Reid played a key role in the passing of President Obama's health care law, helped guide the Senate through a devastating recession and leveraged Senate rules to force Republicans to back down from their attempts to undo Obama's executive actions on immigration, according to The Associated Press.
But Reid struggled to maintain his image back home in Nevada, which was tarnished due to positions he'd taken on national issues. Reid barely survived five years ago and was seen as one of the most likely incumbent Democrats to lose re-election next year, according to The Washington Times. He said he feared his resource-heavy reelection battle would hinder Democrats' shot at taking back control of the Senate.
"We have to make sure that the Democrats take control of the Senate again," he said, according to AP. "And I feel it is inappropriate for me to soak up all those resources on me when I could be devoting those resources to the caucus, and that's what I intend to do."
However, Reid commented that he wasn't worried about not being reelected, saying, "the path to re-election is much easier than it probably has been anytime that I've run for re-election."
In a statement Friday morning, President Obama called Reid "a fighter" who has "never backed down from a tough decision, or been afraid to choose what is right over what is easy."
Reid told The Washington Post on Friday that he would like to see Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., succeed him after he retires.
"I think Schumer should be able to succeed me," he told the Post, calling Schumer "extremely smart" and noting his energetic "different style" would provide an appropriate balance to his own soft-spoken demeanor.
