Recent Retirements Mark Start of 2010 Elections
On Jan. 5, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, announced he will not seek a fourth term. Sen. Dorgan also serves as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security. The senator’s decision came as a surprise to many on Capitol Hill, although he was set to face a tough reelection campaign in a heavily Republican state.
Popular Republican Governor Joe Hoeven is expected to run for Dorgan’s seat. Polls in the weeks leading up to Dorgan’s decision showed the incumbent senator trailing by double-digits to Hoeven. Republicans will treat the open seat in North Dakota as a prime opportunity for a gain in the Senate. A new chairman for the Senate Aviation Subcommittee will be named at the start of the 112th Congress in January 2011.
Shortly after Dorgan’s announcement, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced he also will not seek reelection in 2010. Dodd’s announcement came as little surprise as the senator has fought heavy criticism in the past year over decisions surrounding federal involvement in the insurance and banking industries. Dodd also faced a tough contest in November against a field of Republican challengers. With the embattled senator out of the race, it is expected that Democrat Richard Blumenthal, the state attorney general, will become the favored candidate to succeed Dodd.
As November approaches, ARSA will continue to issue updates on “hot” races across the country, particularly those that will have an impact on the aviation maintenance industry. For more information on how you can get involved in the 2010 elections, visit ARSA's Legislative Action Center.
