Van Hollen Expects Just a Few More Retirements

Worth Clicking: Blasts from the past wound Romney

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January 06, 2010

Van Hollen Expects Just a Few More Retirements

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), chairman of the DCCC, told ABC News that there might be a "couple more" House Democratic retirements this year -- but not anywhere near the 28 retirements that helped Republicans take control of the House of Representatives in 1994.

Said Van Hollen: "Let's put this in perspective: As of right now this year we're below the average number of retirements in the House on a two-year cycle. If you go back to 1994, you saw a high number -- 28; we're talking about 16, 17 retirements [on average in an election cycle]. We're right now at 12 -- maybe there'll be a couple more."

Van Hollen also flatly declared there would be no more party switchers.

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Taegan D. Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

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Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

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January 06, 2010