Lincoln Diaz-Balart To Retire
UPDATE: Diaz-Balart announced his retirement at a news conference earlier today.
"Today I am announcing that I will not seek a tenth term in the United States Congress this November," said Diaz-Balart, who noted he will be returning to practicing law.
NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions released the following statement:
"Lincoln Diaz-Balart has been a strong voice for South Floridians in Washington for nearly two decades and we are grateful for his commitment to the legislative process as a member of the House Rules Committee and his constituents back home. His tireless fight against Communism and his efforts to promote free markets have made a significant contribution to the cause of freedom around the world. While Congressman Diaz-Balart will be missed by his colleagues, we are confident that voters in South Florida will continue their tradition of sending a Republican to Congress in 2010."
Original Post:
Florida Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart is expected to announce his retirement today at a press conference at Florida International University in Miami, Miami Herald reports. The nine-term congressman marks the 18th Republican to retire this cycle.
That may come as a surprise but not a total shock -- remember the Miami Republican months ago had signaled he'd be willing to retire if Charlie Crist appointed him to the US Senate for a caretaker job?Word is his brother, Mario Diaz-Balart, will run for Lincoln's seat -- a safer Republican district. That would open up Mario's seat. There's no clear Republican front runner, but David Rivera and Anitere Flores are running for a state Senate seat that is almost fully contained in the congressional district.
And there's speculation the open seat could entice Democrat Joe Garcia to try again. Garcia came close to ousting the younger Diaz-Balart in 2008, but is now working in Washington for the Obama administration.
First elected in 1992 to the Miami-based 21st District, Diaz-Balart ran unopposed in five of his first six elections, and won with 58% in 2008 -- higher than John McCain's 51%.
Today's news comes one day after Michigan Republican Vern Ehlers announced his retirement.