Rep Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who headed up the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during this past campaign cycle, has announced that he will not be returning for another two years at the helm.
The Hill reports:
“When it comes to the DCCC chairmanship, I believe in term limits,” Van Hollen told liberal radio host Bill Press on Friday. “This will be the end.”
This was Van Hollen’s second consecutive cycle heading up the DCCC. In 2008, during a strong Democratic year, he managed the House Dems’ national campaign that picked up a net 21 seats. As for this year, which as we all know was a bad environment, the Dems lost slightly over 60 seats.
Exactly who will head up the DCCC next is unclear. The chair is picked by the Democratic leader — and that role itself remains up in the air, with uncertainty regarding whether Nancy Pelosi will continue as Minority Leader.
I am reminded of this exchange from Arrested Development, when Michael Bluth visits his now-imprisoned father George in prison:
Michael: I quit.
George: (Pauses) Probably a good career move.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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