Shadegg to Retire
Written by Sam on February 11th, 2008
This just ruined my day.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., said Monday he will not be seeking re-election.
“I have no intention of letting up in the fight for my beliefs,” Shadegg said in an e-mail. “I simply believe it is time for me to do so in some other capacity.”
Shadegg, a seven-term Republican, becomes the 29th House Republican in the past 13 months to either leave or decline to seek re-election at the end of this term.
Shadegg, 58, said he believes a Republican will win his seat in November.
He is best known for his unsuccessful challenge to House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., for the top GOP position after Texas Rep. Tom DeLay’s resignation.
“He was a smart, honest and honorable rival during the race to be Republican majority leader in 2006, and has continued to be a valued part of our Republican team since,” Boehner said. “I will be sorry to see him go.”
The Arizona congressman said he is in good health, and raised more than $1 million last year that could be used to defend his seat in the November elections.
“The bottom line is that this is a personal decision between my family and me, about our dreams, goals and ambitions,” Shadegg said. “We have concluded that it is time for me to seek a new challenge in a different venue to advance the cause of freedom.”
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Sounds like he might be preparing to run for the Senate if McCain gives up his seat.
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Let’s hope so he’s quite a loss.
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I was hoping that Flake would succeed McCain in the Senate but Shadegg would be great. Flake is pretty young I can wait.
With Shadegg gone the reformers from the class of 1994 are pretty much gone from the House. I think you could make an argument for Sue Myrick but she is about the only one.
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Thank you for your service, an honest man in DC is a rare thing.
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Yes they will be all but gone from the House, but if Shadegg goes to the Senate that’ll be him, Jim DeMint, Tom Coburn, and Lindsey Graham (though he doesn’t really count anymore) from the Class of ‘94 moving up to the World’s Most Exclusive Club. And, Mark Sanford occupying the Governor’s Mansion in South Carolina.
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Demint isn’t class of 94. Brownback was but he only served one term in the House.
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You’re right, DeMint wasn’t a member of the class of ‘94, my bad. He certainly has the principles of one though.
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I highly reccomend Gingrich’s CPAC speech:
http://newt.org/tabid/102/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3173/Default.aspx