This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/barbara-boxer-retiring/2015/01/08/58352b0f-d26a-411c-a7c6-19df1d3f20ae_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boxer exits, setting stage for epic California Senate battle | Boxer exits, setting stage for epic California Senate battle |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) announced on Thursday that she will not seek reelection in 2016, the first retirement announcement from a Democratic senator ahead of the 2016 political cycle that will spark a major political contest in California. | Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) announced on Thursday that she will not seek reelection in 2016, the first retirement announcement from a Democratic senator ahead of the 2016 political cycle that will spark a major political contest in California. |
| Boxer made the announcement in a video co-starring her grandson, who played the role of reporter. | Boxer made the announcement in a video co-starring her grandson, who played the role of reporter. |
| Boxer was elected to the House in 1983 and won her Senate seat in 1992 — the so-called "Year of the Woman." She has served alongside the Golden State's senior senator, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), making up one of the first all-woman Senate teams from any of the 50 states. | Boxer was elected to the House in 1983 and won her Senate seat in 1992 — the so-called "Year of the Woman." She has served alongside the Golden State's senior senator, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), making up one of the first all-woman Senate teams from any of the 50 states. |
| “I always knew I had a partner in Barbara. She is never one to shy away from any challenge, and I can’t thank her enough for being such a resilient collaborator,” Feinstein said in a statement Thursday. “We blazed many trails together, and now I’m eager to see where her next steps take her. Barbara is so passionate about so many things, I know her work has really just started. I’m sure she’ll continue to be a role model and inspiration to us all.” | |
| Boxer, who in recent years served as head of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has been a reliable liberal voice in the often-fractured chamber. | Boxer, who in recent years served as head of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has been a reliable liberal voice in the often-fractured chamber. |
| Rumors of her potential retirement had been swirling since late last year, and recent polling suggested her popularity was in decline, despite being from a deep-blue state. A recent statewide poll gave her a 41 percent approval rating. A third-quarter Federal Election Commission filing showed that Boxer had just under $149,000 cash on hand, indicating that she was not aggressively fundraising for reelection. | Rumors of her potential retirement had been swirling since late last year, and recent polling suggested her popularity was in decline, despite being from a deep-blue state. A recent statewide poll gave her a 41 percent approval rating. A third-quarter Federal Election Commission filing showed that Boxer had just under $149,000 cash on hand, indicating that she was not aggressively fundraising for reelection. |
| Boxer's retirement sets up what could be an epic, protracted and incredibly expensive Democratic primary to replace her — in a state that hasn't had an open Senate race since George H.W. Bush was president. Rumored candidates include Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. | Boxer's retirement sets up what could be an epic, protracted and incredibly expensive Democratic primary to replace her — in a state that hasn't had an open Senate race since George H.W. Bush was president. Rumored candidates include Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. |
| Under questioning by her grandson, Boxer, 74, said in the video that the protracted nature of the Senate "is not a factor in my decision." | Under questioning by her grandson, Boxer, 74, said in the video that the protracted nature of the Senate "is not a factor in my decision." |
| Nor is her age. | Nor is her age. |
| "No, definitely not. ... Some people are old at 40, and some people are young at 80. ... As for me, I feel as young as I did when I was elected. I was in my 50s when I was elected to the Senate," she said. | "No, definitely not. ... Some people are old at 40, and some people are young at 80. ... As for me, I feel as young as I did when I was elected. I was in my 50s when I was elected to the Senate," she said. |
| "I want to come home," she added later, before concluding the video with a rhyme. (She's frequently used limericks as a rhetorical tool.) | "I want to come home," she added later, before concluding the video with a rhyme. (She's frequently used limericks as a rhetorical tool.) |
| "The Senate is the place where I’ve always made my case," she said. "For families, for the planet and the human race. More than 20 years in a job I love, thanks to California and the Lord above. So although I won’t be working for my Senate space, and I won’t be running in that next tough race, as long as there are issues and challenges and strife, I will never retire because that’s the meaning of my life." | "The Senate is the place where I’ve always made my case," she said. "For families, for the planet and the human race. More than 20 years in a job I love, thanks to California and the Lord above. So although I won’t be working for my Senate space, and I won’t be running in that next tough race, as long as there are issues and challenges and strife, I will never retire because that’s the meaning of my life." |
| News of Boxer's retirement appeared to catch her close friend, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a fellow California Democrat, by surprise. | News of Boxer's retirement appeared to catch her close friend, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a fellow California Democrat, by surprise. |
| "What?" she responded when asked by reporters about it Thursday morning during her weekly news conference. | "What?" she responded when asked by reporters about it Thursday morning during her weekly news conference. |
| Pelosi said she had just received a call from Boxer indicating she wanted to speak with her personally. | Pelosi said she had just received a call from Boxer indicating she wanted to speak with her personally. |
| "I thought she wanted to have dinner tonight," Pelosi quipped. | "I thought she wanted to have dinner tonight," Pelosi quipped. |
| Pelosi said Boxer's decision would mean "a real loss" but added, "God bless her." | Pelosi said Boxer's decision would mean "a real loss" but added, "God bless her." |
| "Senator Boxer has been such a champion for the people for California and indeed for our entire country," she added. | "Senator Boxer has been such a champion for the people for California and indeed for our entire country," she added. |
| Jose A. DelReal and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report. | Jose A. DelReal and Sean Sullivan contributed to this report. |