Hastert Say He’s Not Seeking Re-Election
Updated 12:23 PM ET August 17, 2007
By DEANNA BELLANDI
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YORKVILLE, Ill. (AP) – Rep. Dennis Hastert, who was speaker of the
House longer than any Republican, announced Friday morning he will not
seek another term in Congress.

Speaking to hundreds of supporters outside the Kendall County
courthouse in his northern Illinois district, Hastert thanked staff,
supporters and voters who helped keep him in office for 20 years.

"Together, we have made a difference," he said. Citing legislation for
domestic security, Medicare, technology research, Social Security and
alternative fuel sources, he added, "We passed improvements that have
quietly made a real difference in people’s lives."

President Bush praised Hastert in a statement. "Drawing on lessons he
learned as a coach, he successfully guided Members of Congress to work
together to enact legislation that has improved the lives of
Americans," Bush said.

Retirement speculation had circulated since Hastert forfeited the
powerful speaker’s post when Republicans lost control of the House in
last year’s elections. Hastert, 65, declined to run for minority
leader, taking on a role as elder statesman among Republicans.

In his release, Hastert said his accomplishments as a congressman for
his northern Illinois district and as House speaker weren’t his own
doing, but happened because of support from constituents, friends and
colleagues.

"We worked together to pass legislation to provide a service or to
meet the need or those we served," he said. "We fought for our beliefs
and worked to improve our communities, our district and our country."

Hastert’s retirement has local Democrats starting to boast they can
win another congressional seat, even as the GOP vows it won’t easily
give up a seat it has held for two decades. Hastert was considered by
many to be unbeatable in his northern Illinois district.

"Any Democrat thinking of getting into this race does so at his or her
own peril," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman
Ken Spain.

A Hastert vacancy is the second in Illinois that Republicans would
have to contend with because retiring Rep. Ray LaHood is giving up a
central Illinois congressional seat controlled by the GOP for nearly
90 years. LaHood will leave when his term ends in January 2009.

National Republicans "now have to defend another open seat in a blue
state where the president is incredibly unpopular," said DCCC
spokesman Doug Thornell.

Thornell said a race to replace Hastert would be a "a real
opportunity" for Democrats in a "competitive district." The district
stretches from Hastert’s Plano home south of Chicago all the way to
the Mississippi River.

Some local Democrats say they might snag Hastert’s district away from
Republicans because the populated areas are leaning more Democratic as
people migrate there from the heavily Democratic city of Chicago in
search of less expensive housing. They also point to last year’s
election, when two Democrats from Hastert’s district won open seats in
the Illinois Senate that had been held by Republicans.

"Times, they have a-changed," said state Sen. Michael Noland, one of
those Democrats who now represents the Elgin area west of Chicago.

President Bush carried the district in 2004 with 55 percent of the
vote.