“In a surprise announcement this morning, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) said he won’t be running for what would be his sixth term in the United States Senate,” the Las Vegas Sun reports.

“In a video to supporters, the Nevada Democrat and Senate minority leader listed several reasons for his decision to end his three-decade career in Congress.”

First Read: “And this has two immediate consequences: One, it most likely hands the Democratic reins over to heir-apparent Chuck Schumer. And two, it creates what could be one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country. Given that it’s a presidential year, that probably helps the Democrats, slightly.”

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) “summoned dozens of staffers to the Senate’s Mansfield Room Tuesday and delivered a clear message: He’s running for reelection next year,” Politico reports.

“The comments are in part aimed at putting to rest growing speculation inside the Senate that the 75-year-old Nevada Democrat — badly hurt from a painful injury to his right eye — would call it quits after nearly three decades in the chamber. The Senate minority leader faces what could be a difficult reelection race next year, plus his would-be successors are ready to run the Democratic Caucus the moment he calls it quits.”

Geoffrey Skelley: “Reid has won five straight elections for Senate, starting in 1986. His average share of the vote in those contests was 52.1%. If we compare Reid to other senators who won at least five consecutive contests (including special elections), his mark is the lowest average percentage won by any qualifying senator. Reid also had the lowest median percentage (50.3%).”

“Remarkably, Reid has only won more than 51.0% of the vote once, cruising to victory with 61.1% in 2004. Otherwise, his percentages have been very low for a winner — 50.0% in 1986, 51.0% in 1992, 47.9% in 1998, and 50.3% in 2010.”

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) “is turning on his fundraising machine as he prepares to run — possibly — for a sixth term in the Senate,” Politico reports.

“While rumors have circulated for months that the Nevada Democrat may not run for reelection next year, the top Republican 2016 target has scheduled a handful of fundraising events in an effort to put up a big first-quarter cash haul.”