Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN 03) becomes the latest surprise retirement as he announced he would not run for another term next year. Ramstad's district, which voted narrowly for President Bush twice and picked Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar last year, surrounds the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs in Hennepin County.

The seat, as noted by an NRCC release, has been represented by a Republican for 45 years, though Democrats are likely to make a strong run given a newly open opportunity. Politico's Josh Kraushaar points to State Rep. Erik Paulsen, businessman Brian Sullivan and Governor Tim Pawlenty's former chief of staff David Gaither.

Intriguingly, Ramstad predicted a wave of retirements yet to come. "There are going to be a number of retirements, I assure you, in both parties," Ramstad said, according to Kraushaar.