Blumenauer Not Running For Senate

The desire for House Democrats to reap the benefits of their newfound majority is depriving the party’s Senate counterparts of some of their most promising recruits, reports Politico's Josh Kraushaar.

This morning Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) opted not to challenge Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today, making him the second high-profile candidate to decline running for the seat in the last month.

“At this unique moment in history there is too much work to be done in the House of Representatives to take on a campaign for the US Senate,” wrote Blumenauer on his campaign website.