Ray LaHood Announces Retirement

After serving seven terms in Congress, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) announced his retirement on a Peoria radio station Thursday afternoon.

LaHood served as chief of staff to longtime Minority Leader Bob Michel (R-Ill.) before coming to Congress in the class of 1994. During his tenure, he became a fiercely independent critic of former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) when the latter held an ironclad grip over Republicans in the House. He also clashed with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) -- he was one of only three Republicans not to sign the Contact with America.

In a bit of irony, he made his announcement on Bradley University’s NPR affiliate, WCBU. He had expressed interest applying for the presidency of Bradley University, but later withdrew his name from consideration

Democrats have said the Peoria-based seat would be a target for them assuming LaHood retired -- particularly if Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is their presidential nominee. The district gave President Bush 58 percent of the vote in 2004. A Democrat hasn't represented the Peoria area since 1917.

State senator John Sullivan would be a likely Democratic candidate, and he has already spoken with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Republicans also have a number of potential candidates in the wings. Tazewell County Attorney Stu Umholtz, who ran for attorney general last year, and 25-year-old state Rep. Aaron Schock -- a protege of LaHood's -- are two of the better-known GOP prospects within the district.

The Illinois primary, held next February 5th, is the earliest in the country, and candidates would begin to circulating petitions in August.