Sen. Carper (D-DE) Announces Retirement

On Monday, Sen. Carper (D-DE) announced that he will not seek reelection.  Sen. Carper, 76, is the fourth Democratic senator to announce his retirement, following Sens. Stabenow (MI), Feinstein (CA), and Cardin (MD).  Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., is widely seen as a potential successor to Carper. His departure opens up the party's top seat on the Environment and Public Works Committee. Next in line would be current Budget Chairman Whitehouse (D-RI), assuming Sen. Sanders, (I-VT), wants to retain the top Democratic spot on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.  Mike Oscar said, "I will miss my conversations with him as we traveled to D.C. together on Amtrak!"