North Dakota Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad announced Tuesday that he will retire from the Senate when his current term expires in 2012.
“After months of consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012,” Conrad said in a written statement. “There are serious challenges facing our State and nation, like a $14 trillion debt and America’s dependence on foreign oil. It is more important I spend my time and energy trying to solve these problems than to be distracted by a campaign for reelection.”
Conrad, 62, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 and was re-elected by wide margins in 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2006. Sources close to Conrad told Fox News that the senator had been weighing his decision for several months.“Although I will not seek reelection, the work is not done. I will continue to do my level best for both North Dakota and the nation over the final two years of my term,” Conrad said.
Source – NYPOST.com.