Congressman Jim Greenwood (R-PA) Set to Retire

[NewJerseyDem]

This seat gave Gore 51% so we can pick up this seat!

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/6288-1.html (subscription required)

Pennsylvania Rep. Jim Greenwood (R) has informed the House Republican leadership that he will retire at the end of the 108th Congress, according to GOP sources.

Greenwood issued a statement Monday afternoon in which he said, “From time to time during my twenty four years of public service, I have been approached and offered other types of challenges and opportunities. Such has been the case in the last few days, and I am currently reviewing one of these opportunities. I will make my decision public in the very near future and will have no other statement until then.”

Two knowledgeable sources confirmed that Greenwood definitely plans to retire. The timing of Greenwood's formal retirement announcement remains unclear, though a House Republican source said it would likely come later this week.

The 53-year-old moderate's decision came as a surprise to Republican leaders, who are already working to defend several competitive open seats. Greenwood's Philadelphia-area 8th district supported Al Gore over President Bush in 2000 by 51 percent to 46 percent.

[West Coast Democrat]

1. So we can chalk up another House seat?

[arcos]

2. if Kerry wins by a confortable margin...

the Dems may end up picking up both the House and the Senate

[NewJerseyDem]

4. The House will be difficult

The Democrats would have to win pretty much every competitive seat, so it would be really hard, but it isn't out of the question. I'm not sure that a Kerry victory would help much since a lot of the swing seats are in Republican territory so we are depending on a lot of ticket splitting anyway. I think we have a real shot at the Senate though.

[MGKrebs]

3. Jeez. That is messed up timing!

Surely it's too late for a new candidate to qualify for election this year. So does that mean there will have to be a special election? And if so, that probably wouldn't be until next year, so does the Gov. appoint a replacement until then?

[NewJerseyDem]

5. He isn't resigning

Greenwood is just taking his name off the ballot and allowing the state party to fill his position as the GOP nominee.

[MGKrebs]

8. Maybe I'm dense, but

usually there is a deadline for a candidate to qualify. A party just can't throw a new name onto the ballot at the last minute. Lautenberg comes to mind.

Anyway, I found this in the PA Dep't. of State site:

2004 Pennsylvania Elections
Important Dates To Remember
First day to circulate and file nomination petitions January 27
Last day to circulate and file nomination petitions February 17
First day to circulate and file nomination papers February 18
Last day for withdrawal by candidates who filed nomination petitions March 3

[NewJerseyDem]

9. That was for the primary

It is certainly not to late to drop out for the November election. It isn't anywhere close to last minute and it is way earlier the Torch/Lautenberg switch was.

August 9th is the last day for withdrwal:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/cwp/view.asp?a=1099&Q=440331&PM=1

Last day for withdrawal by candidates nominated at the primary August 9

[MGKrebs]

14. Ah yes. Now I see it. Thanks.

Sent $50 to Ms. Schrader.

Seize the moment!!

[Jane Austin]

6. It can't be fun for a moderate Republican to have to serve

in Tom DeLay's House.

He must have had the hammer lowered on his head one too many times.

[NewJerseyDem]

7. I'm not sure

The article seems to indicate that he may have gotten a job offer like a prominent lobbying position.

Most of his moderation is on cultural issues. He is one of only 5 Republicans that voted against the Partial-birth Abortion ban and he lead the republican fight against it. And he is also supportive of environmental protections. However, Republicans don't have to worry about those issues because there are enough conservative Democrats, mostly in the South, that the Republicans always win on those votes, so I don't think they mind Greenwood's moderation. On economic issues, Greenwood is pretty much in line with the Republican leadership.

[Jane Austin]

11. All the more reason it can't be fun to serve in

Tom DeLay's House.

JMO

[lil-petunia]

10. be careful who you choose

but, I live in Illlinois, so we are sensitive to appointing candidates for elected office.

who is running agin him in Penn? anyone sane and sober?

[NewJerseyDem]

12. Ginny Schrader is the Democratic nominee

She is pretty much an unkwon, I believe, but she seems like a fine candidate. However, the GOP will probably put on one of the top GOPers in the state legislature from Bucks County so it may be hard for Schrader to win. I guess that it may be possible that Dem leaders will pressure her off the ballot and instead put on somewhere stronger. This is Schader's website:

http://www.ginnyschrader.com/

[iconoclastic cat]

13. I just posted this on another thread: Dem Ginny Schrader has a shot!

From Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/7/19/164328/089

Breaking News: GOP Congressman Greenwood (PA-08) Leaving Congress This Year
by MrLiberal
Mon Jul 19th, 2004 at 16:43:28 EDT

I just read this at PoliticsPA.com and in a breaking news e-mail from RollCall.com. Congressman Jim Greenwood, a moderate Republican in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional district, just announced he will not seek reelection this year, instead removing his name from the ballot. The Democrat, Virginia "Ginny" Schrader, is an attorney who has just $7,000 in the bank as of June 30th. Greenwood's district voted for Gore in 2000 by a decent amount, and the GOP is now scrambling for a replacement.

Schraeder's website is http://www.ginnyschrader.com . I would suggest that we get involved ASAP. This seat is a Democratic-leaning one, and is too good to miss. Schrader is a liberal-to-moderate, pro-choice Democrat. In addition, she supports civil unions and is against Bush's positions on Iraq and the Patriot Act. She is an attorney who ran for State Rep. in 2002 and lost by a respectable margin.

This is completely out of left field, folks, and it gives us another opportunity for a pickup. Ginny Schrader is the luckiest candidate in the nation today, but can her luck hold?
House Elections 2004 :: Link & Discuss (29 comments, 29 new)
****

[starroute]

15. That's my district -- I've got to find out more about this

Bucks County is a funny place -- it ranges from Philly suburbs in the south (heavily Democratic) to small towns in the north (heavily Republican) with a lot of suburbs in the middle (formerly Republican and now trending Democratic).

We had a Democratic congressman before Greenwood. Greenwood is reasonably popular because he's a pro-environmental moderate who seems like a basically nice guy. That's what it takes to pick up those suburban votes. But with him out of the picture, the seat should be very much in play. I'll find out what I can.

[Joy Anne]

17. Republican candidate

Tom Druse is available, isn't he? Can we hope?

[Soopercali]

16. Greenwood loved Big Pharma.

Lots o'pharmaceutical companies in this district, and Jim is very protective of them. I'd love to see us take this seat!