Update, 12:26 p.m.: Shortly after announcing his retirement, Reid endorsed Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to replace him. “I think Schumer should be able to succeed me,” he told the Washington Post in an interview at his DC residence.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid announced on Friday he will not be seeking reelection when his term comes to an end next year. He announced his retirement in a YouTube video:
My life’s work has been to make Nevada and our nation better. Thank you for giving me that wonderful opportunity. https://t.co/dwy2rDWYhO
— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) March 27, 2015
The decision to retire, the 75-year-old senator from Nevada said, “has absolutely nothing to do” with the injury he sustained back in January from an exercising accident or his new role as minority leader following the Democrats’ loss during the midterm elections. In an interview with the New York Times he explained, “I want to be able to go out at the top of my game. I don’t want to be a 42-year-old trying to become a designated hitter.”
In the video, Reid continues with a message to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, “Don’t be too elated. I’m going to be here for 22 more months, and you know what I’m going to be doing? The same thing I’ve done since I first came to the Senate. We have to make sure the Democrats take control of the Senate again.”
