Congressional Career - Democratic Senator Harkin Says Will Not Seek Re - Election Reuters

By Kay Henderson

DES MOINES Sat Jan 26, 2013 1:46pm EST

DES MOINES (Reuters) - Senator Tom Harkin, a good Iowa Democrat your decide one of this almost all liberal senators, mentioned with Saturday he can not necessarily seek re-election with 2014, stating he or she thought that soon after forty decades around Congress, it'll be "somebody else's turn."

Harkin, 73, who have centered much regarding his long congressional profession on farm policy in addition to guidelines aiding people with disabilities, may be the third senator facing re-election throughout 2014 who may have declared his retirement, subsequent Democrat Jay Rockefeller with West Virginia plus Republican Saxby Chambliss regarding Georgia.

"I don't by any kind of implies plan to cease working entirely from public existence along at the end of the Congress," Harkin explained with a new statement. "But I feel going to make way pertaining to someone new in this Senate seat. I believe is right not merely to get me, but intended for Iowa, as well."

Iowa, web page of the early presidential caucuses, is considered a political swing express and also Harkin's leaving could position the Democratic Party's long-time store for the harley seat with risk. Republican Charles Grassley is actually Iowa's some other senator.

Democratic Party administrators mentioned Harkin's announcement, coming first while in the latest two-year selection cycle, would supply enough time frame that will get leads a strong candidate.

U.S. Representative Bruce Braley, a Democrat, will be widely found as a front-runner to help upgrade Harkin. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, and also his her conversation Christine Vilsack, who ran unsuccessfully pertaining to Congress past year, will also be seen potential candidates.

Among Republicans, Representatives Tom Latham in addition to Steve King might be contenders.

In his left over eighteen months in office, Harkin mentioned he will focus on applying President Barack Obama's healthcare reforms, expanding employment opportunities if you are using disabilities and increasing admission to education.

A gathering maverick, he or she angrily contrariwise that White House in the recently available monetary cliff skimp this Vice President Joe Biden negotiated using Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Harkin said this cope that will higher taxations solely to the very prosperous helps your wealthy on the expense in the midsection class.

Harkin ended up being initial elected towards the House of Representatives throughout 1974 and also the Senate with 1984.

"When the current Congress is definitely over, I may have served within the United States House regarding Representatives as well as U.S. Senate for just a total regarding forty years. After forty years, I just simply feel it is an individual else's turn," he or she said.

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Charles Abbott along with Vicki Allen throughout Washington; Editing by simply Doina Chiacu along with Vicki Allen)