Johanns retiring after one term.

[Keystone Phil]

Maybe Hagel can run (and lose) for his old seat!

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/18/17005060-nebraska-republican-senator-to-retire

[RogueBeaver]

Heinemann will lock it up.

[Brittain33]

There goes half the Republican freshman class of 2008.

[Maxwell]

Yeah, this election is already over. Congratulations, Governor Heinemann.

[Nhoj]

I wonder if hes annoyed with the whole hagel thing.

[Vosem]

I like how his letter refers to himself by the royal "We".

By the Grace of God, We Michael, Senator and Congressman of All the Nebraskas, of Omaha, of Lincoln, of Bellevue, and of Grand Island...

[NewYorkExpress]

Heinemann will lock it up.

I agree Heinemann holds the seat, but he will get a tea party inspired challenge in the primary.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I like how his letter refers to himself by the royal "We".

The letter was from him and his wife.

[Vosem]

I like how his letter refers to himself by the royal "We".

The letter was from him and his wife.

I understood that was the point, but it came off strange because it wasn't immediately obvious and because actually only he holds the Senate seat.

[© tweed]

I wonder if hes annoyed with the whole hagel thing.

most of the time this happens the guy just wants to make more $$ in the private sector.

[Miles]

Heineman will be 66; I thought he was younger. 'Kinda old for a freshman, but still his seat if he wants it.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Heineman will be 66; I thought he was younger. 'Kinda old for a freshman, but still his seat if he wants it.

If he really wanted it he would have run last year. Frankly he doesn't strike me as a guy with a burning desire to go to Washington.

Anyway, it'not like the Republicans have no bench in Nebraska.

[Obamanation]

If Lee Terry runs, the Dems may have a chance in the open 2nd district.

[Niemeyerite]

Hagel should give up and start running as a democrat for this

I don't think Heinemann will run. I'm hoping Lee Terry runs because:

If Lee Terry runs, the Dems may have a chance in the open 2nd district.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Why's he retiring?  I was hoping to see more of him in the Senate.

[RogueBeaver]

Spend more time with the family, wanting to move on after 32 years in politics. Plus frustration at gridlock (former guv in Sen, a la Warner) and realizing all the leadership slots were closed for the foreseeable future.

[tmthforu94]

If I had to guess, it appears Senator Bruning was just delayed two years.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

If I had to guess, it appears Senator Bruning was just delayed two years.

Might thoughts as well. Lets just hope he gets a better handle on the primary this time.

[User157088589849]

Is anyone else going to surprise us and retire or are we done?

[Bacon King]

Sabato had some good analysis about this on his twitter. Governors who become Senators almost universally hate the job these days.

[minionofmidas]

A decent man newly elected to Congress, as a Republican. Yeah, this was never going to last.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Is anyone else going to surprise us and retire or are we done?

We're not even a sixth of the way through 2013 yet.

[RogueBeaver]

Yep: Levin, Cochran, Johnson are all on retirement watch too.

[RodPresident]

Hagel can run as Democratic-endorsed Independent, but Kleeb should try another time.