After 5 terms, Reid sets retirement

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid announced Friday that he will retire at the end of his fifth term in 2016. Reid endorsed Sen. Charles Schumer of New York as his replacement.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid announced Friday that he will retire at the end of his fifth term in 2016. Reid endorsed Sen. Charles Schumer of New York as his replacement.

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, the Nevadan who dominated the Senate for a decade from the minority to the majority and back again, announced Friday that he will retire after five terms.

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AP

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 22, 2014, to discuss immigration reform.

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AP

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, accompanied by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California during a news conference last month on Capitol Hill, announced Friday he will not seek re-election to another term.

Reid endorsed the No. 3 Senate Democrat, three-term New York Sen. Charles Schumer, to replace him as the next Democratic leader. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the current No. 2, told Schumer on Thursday night that he had Durbin's support, according to a spokesman.

Durbin plans to run again for the job of Democratic whip.

"I think it's very important to have continuity in our leadership," Reid, who has held his seat since 1987, told KNPR radio in Nevada about backing Schumer.

Reid, 75, who shepherded key initiatives for President Barack Obama's administration, including the president's health care law, lost his role as majority leader -- the Senate's top job -- when November's elections swept the Republicans into control.

He then suffered a personal setback on New Year's Day, falling while exercising and suffering a lasting injury to his right eye.

In a statement early Friday, Reid said the recovery period from his eye injury, which may leave him with permanent vision loss, gave him time to think about his political future.

"We have to make sure that the Democrats take control of the Senate again," he said. "And I feel it is inappropriate for me to soak up all those resources on me when I could be devoting those resources to the caucus, and that's what I intend to do."

Reid was widely considered vulnerable to losing his seat in 2016. He had grown more unpopular at home because of positions he'd taken on national issues.

Obama issued a statement saying Reid "has become not only an ally, but a friend."

Obama also called in to the radio show, chatting with Reid about their years together pushing legislation, fighting the economic recession and overhauling the nation's health care system.

"We've had a great run," Obama said.

As Democratic leader, Reid thrived on behind-the-scenes wrangling. He guided the Senate through the recession and the GOP takeover of the House in the 2010 elections, which sparked years of bitter partisan battles and congressional gridlock.

He also was known for impolitic remarks, once complaining that tourists at the Capitol smelled, and calling former President George W. Bush a "loser" and a "liar."

Even from his post in the minority, Reid leveraged Senate rules to exert control. He held his 46-member caucus together against attempts by Republicans to pass legislation undoing Obama's executive actions on immigration, forcing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to back down and House Speaker John Boehner to follow.

Reid could not resist needling McConnell, with whom he had an icy relationship, as he disclosed his departure.

"My friend Sen. McConnell, don't be too elated. I'm going to be here for 22 months," Reid said in a video he filmed to announce his retirement.

McConnell was gracious in his comments on Reid's retirement.

"Nothing has ever come easily to this son of Searchlight," the GOP senator said in a statement, referring to Reid's hometown in Nevada. "Underestimated often, his distinctive grit and determined focus nevertheless saw him through many challenges. They continue to make him a formidable opponent today."

Reid has built a formidable Democratic machine in Nevada, working to move up the state's caucuses so the state plays a significant role in the presidential nominating contest and helping boost registration of Democratic voters in the swing state.

Reid also endorsed former Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto to run for his seat next year.

On the Republican side, Gov. Brian Sandoval has been encouraged to run but has said he intends to serve out his full term as governor. Other possibilities are Rep. Joe Heck and former Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki.

Information for this article was contributed by Charles Babington and Riley Snyder of The Associated Press.

A Section on 03/28/2015

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