Representative Barney Frank, Democrat, Massachusetts, Will Not Seek Re-election

Posted by Tina

Rep. Frank says he will not run for several reasons: redistricting has made his chances much more difficult; he’d have to work very hard; expending all that energy as he serves as a lame duck is too difficult; people are skeptical of incumbents; he hates raising money; four years of dealing with financial reform has been stressful; anger in the country…and something about “inside work” not being constructive. He also says he has other things he would like to do with his time.

This article also suggests that the last election cycle was a close race for the 71 year old:

“It’s a tougher district,” said Sowyrda, who was recently hired as a consultant by Frank to analyze the new district. “Barney was not thrilled at all with the map when he saw it. New Bedford, where his vote was huge, was sliced. His exact words to me were, ‘They didn’t do me any favors.'”

Sowyrda also said Frank’s “brutal” 2010 battle with Republican Sean Bielat was a factor in his decision. The race marked Frank’s toughest re-election fight in years and was highlighted by scathing criticism of the congressman’s role in the nation’s housing collapse, as well as a Herald video that went viral that showed Frank’s longtime boyfriend, Jim Ready, taunting Bielat on the campaign trail.

“I think the guy was struggling with the decision,” Sowyrda said. “I think he said to himself, ‘I just had this brutal fight in 2010. I don’t know if I’m up for it again.’ He’s 71. It’s time to move on and do other things.”

Frank is the seventeenth Democrat to announce he will not run again in the next election. They say Barney Frank is a smart man. A smart man knows when his time is up and quietly exits the stage. Good move, Barney!