NJ
Nebraska Republican Mike Johanns to retire from Senate after one term
Johanns’s retirement likely won’t give Democrats much of an opportunity for a pick up in the deeply Republican state. Republican Sen. Deb Fischer easily defeated former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey last year, winning nearly 60 percent of the vote.
“The Cornhusker state will look to continue its strong conservative tradition by electing an equally dedicated Republican leader in 2014,” National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Jerry Moran said in a statement.
The leading candidate to succeed Johanns is current Republican Gov. Dave Heineman, according to a senior Republican operative. Heineman, who has served two full terms since 2005, as Nebraska’s governor, is term-limited from running again in 2014.
Blowback
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Funny how not having to face their constituents causes Republicans to side with Democrats.
sauldalinsky on February 18, 2013 at 1:17 PM
Guess we will have to wait with baited breath for the rove ok on who gets the nod?
L
letget on February 18, 2013 at 1:17 PM
@ letget
hahah… totally. Oh great architect… who shall our king be?
@sauldalinsky
funny, right? It’s also downright sad and scary. This is why we need a leader in the Tea Party and the GOP needs to just wither away
johnnyboy on February 18, 2013 at 1:30 PM
FIFY
blammm on February 18, 2013 at 1:35 PM
Yeah, his early endorsement of Hagel didn’t do him any favors back home. Plus, many of us haven’t forgotten how Johanns got to be Sec of Ag under dubya. He jerked the rug out from under ICE raids on Nebraska packing houses which had netted hundreds if illegals. Once he had assured the meat packers their cheap labor was no longer at risk, dubya tagged him for higher office. He’s not to be trusted.
a capella on February 18, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Meh. As the article said, the Dems have no pickup opportunities here. Their bench in the state is non-existent and Heineman will be sitting around twiddling his thumbs when 2014 rolls around. It’ll be over as soon as he announces.
LukeinNE on February 18, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Let’s hope Gov. Dave announces soon. I like Johanns, but voting to confirm Hagel is beyond stupid.
NebCon on February 18, 2013 at 2:01 PM
I remember when the Nebraska Senators were Curtis and Hruska. The joke at the time was that the only state that had a senator dumber than Curtis was Nebraska.
Sometimes we struggled but we’ve maintained our standing ever since. See Kerrey and Nelson as examples.
countrybumpkin on February 18, 2013 at 2:09 PM
We need so many more of these tpye of people who run get elected serve their term then leave. We have too many who hang onot power with their fingernails and won’t give it up short of death or scandal. I applaud this senator. Good job sir.
unseen on February 18, 2013 at 2:12 PM
A lot of things are funny…
1) It’s funny that about half our judicial nominees break and become squishy or liberal, but almost none of the Democrats’ break and become more conservative.
2) It’s funny how often Republicans turn Democrat, although it’s relatively rare that Democrats turn Republican.
Outlander on February 18, 2013 at 3:03 PM