News that Rep. Tom Reynolds, New York Republican, will announce his retirement today furthers the uphill climb for House Republicans, who are scrambling to cope with the latest rash of GOP members who say they won't seek re-election.
Mr. Reynolds announced his retirement during a noon press conference today. He was elected in 1998 and squeezed out a narrow win in 2006, defeating his Democratic opponent Jack Davis by a margin of 52 to 48 percent. His departure brings the number of GOP House vacancies to 30.
He had come under fire for an accounting scandal at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in which several hundred thousand dollars were funneled to personal accounts. Former NRCC treasurer Christopher J. Ward, who hasn't been charged, is currently under FBI investigation, according to the NRCC's recently released report.
Mr. Ward did not respond to requests for comments from The Washington Times.
While Mr. Reynolds hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing, his critics say they were concerned that the scandal occurred during his tenure as chairman of the NRCC.
The non-partisan Cook Political Report rates Mr. Reynolds' district as a Republican-leaning district, and President Bush carried the region by a margin of 55 percent to 43 percent.
"The registration advantage along with the past presidential performance of the district illustrates just how strong a Republican seat this is," said Ken Spain, an NRCC spokesman. "We are confident that we will retain the seat. With John McCain at the top of the ticket and widespread disapproval of the Democrat-led Congress, Republican candidates will be provided with plenty of fodder for the fall."
A spokesman for the the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) disagreed, saying Democrats are well-positioned to pick up Mr. Reynolds' seat.
"With today's announcement, five of six elected Republican leaders from the 2006 cycle have retired or quit — Hastert, DeLay, Pryce, Doolittle, and Reynolds — and Democrats are competitive in each of these districts," said Doug Thornell, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Republicans are on defense with less than eight months until election day, the NRCC still has major recruiting holes, internal problems, and little money to defend their vulnerable incumbents."
At least two Democrats have already announced their candidacies in New York's 26th District, attorney Alice Kryzan and Iraq veteran Jon Powers, who has raised more than $400,000 and is favored to get his party's nod.
— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times
