Bart Gordon retiring

Tennessee Rep. Bart Gordon (D) will not seek re-election in 2010.

“When I was elected, I was the youngest member of the Tennessee congressional delegation; now, I’m one of the oldest,” Gordon said in a statement announcing his decision. “In fact, I have members of my staff who weren’t even born when I took office. That tells me it’s time for a new chapter.”

Gordon has held the central Tennessee 6th district since 1984 but was headed to his most serious race in recent memory in 2010 as national Republicans had aggressively recruited against him due to the GOP lean of the seat. (Arizona Sen. John McCain carried it with 62 percent in 2008 and President George W. Bush won it with 60 percent four years earlier.)

Gordon along with Reps. Brian Baird (Wash.), John Tanner (Tenn.) and Dennis Moore (Kans.) have announced their retirements in recent weeks from seats that will be major Republican targets in 2010.

Democratic strategists have insisted that the series of retirements are isolated cases not indicative of a broader fear among Members of Congress that the political environment is shaping up badly for their party in 2010. It may be more difficult to make that argument now.

“It’s official: Democrats now have a retirement problem,” declared National Republican Congressional Committee communications director Ken Spain in the immediate aftermath of the Gordon decision.

Democrats now have 11 open seats (two are vacancies that will be filled by special elections). Of those districts, seven are competitive. House Republicans currently have 12 retirements, three of which are regarded as highly competitive.

Source: Bart Gordon to retire