Sen. Mike Johanns Is Retiring

Nebraska Republican is the fifth senator to call it quits in 2014

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) will not seek reelection in 2014, retiring after just one term in office and opening a seat that is likely to remain in Republican hands.

Johanns previously served as governor of Nebraska and Agriculture secretary. Johanns was a low-key presence in the Senate and voted a consistently conservative line. Johanns is the fifth senator to announce retirement plans in 2014, along with Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) is likely to pursue the seat in 2014. Nebraska is deep red and Democrats shouldn't get their hopes up. After all, a 2012 comeback bid by Bob Kerrey, a former senator and governor, ended up with him losing 58-42 to now-Sen. Deb Fischer.

And Democrats couldn't even capitalize on the Cornhusker State's split Electoral College allocation system, based on congressional districts, not the statewide vote. In 2008 Barack Obama picked off one of the state's five electoral votes by winning big in Omaha. But in 2012 the district returned to its Republican roots, handing its vote to Mitt Romney.

Politix analysis.

Are you surprised a senator in a safe seat would retire after just one term?

[MrGreenHerb]

Down falllllll.
Weeeee..

[stepped_in_it]

Rats meet plank.....ship is sinking. RUN!

[InjusticeSucks]

See their is a GOD and this Proves hes not liking the GOP.

[stepped_in_it]

@InjusticeSucks Your "god", if he existed, would not like either party. Both parties are criminals and should be strung up at the nearest tree....and sharing of rope would not be necessary!

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Conservatives believe in serving their constituency for a term or two and then going back to the private sector. We're not ones to mooch off of the government. We're not like Conyers, Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, and Byrd, who spend a lifetime in office and never plan to return to the private sector.

[stepped_in_it]

Or McCain.....come on Neo, you can do better than that....I've seen you do it!

[jaybebo84]

@stepped_in_it

McCain is only Republican by name...nothing more...he is just another politician full of hot air with no real ideas on how to fix anything...

[stepped_in_it]

@jaybebo84 "Conservatives believe in serving their constituency for a term or two and then going back to the private sector"....going by the context of this statement, not by what the man "does".......want more conservative names that have served more than one or two terms?
My opinion is BOTH parties have/are "career" politicians and almost never "go back" to the private sector, unless one thinks lobbyists are private sector jobs!

[tomincali]

maybe it only took one term to see how corrupt the whole gov is and bailed.

[jaybebo84]

@stepped_in_it

I know there are numerous career politicians in Congress on both sides of the aisle...you stated McCain...I was stating he is only Republican by name...

[miketost]

Seems as those retiring are running for the hills before the sh-t hits the fan.Perhaps they are not as nuts as i thought.

[Dan_Tien]

He still gets his lifetime retirement package, doesn't he?

[GmanGSW]

Wow, is this campaign reform? LOL! Um, Captain, we just hit an iceberg, when do we, uh, start lowering the life boats; people are already jumping ship!

[Fishbone345]

Remember when Captains went down with their ship? What a bygone era that is now. Captains like Captain Francesco Schettino have really set the bar pretty low. ;)

[GmanGSW]

@Fishbone345
Yep! Note, you made my day. I am smiling ear to ear!:^)

[falco_alba]

I actually prefer term limits. It should be two.

[Canoochee]

Wouldn't that be the government telling private citizens who they can vote for to represent them?

[falco_alba]

@Canoochee

We put a term limit on the Presidency. How is that any different?

[Canoochee]

@falco_alba Do you mean other than that is not an answer to my question?

The Presidency is a national office. Representatives are local. Senators not as much, but still represent a portion of the country. Senators used to be appointed by the states and served as their representative a policy we should return to but won't.

[falco_alba]

@Canoochee

The Founding Fathers did not intend politics to become a profession. By limiting terms, we force private citizens to evaluate the current state of affairs and not vote for someone simply because they already have the job. Much of the problem with our government rests in the hands of the people and their apathy. It makes sense to have a cyclical government at all levels, and term limits would help people get shit done instead of worry about the next election.

[Fishbone345]

It's like rats deserting a sinking ship. Run to freedom little rodents, they might not blame you if you get off safely!!

[ErnestPayne]

Apparently the senator can do something other republicans can't. Read the demographic writing on the wall.

[Sonny]

I hope more Republicans decide to leave office. After all, they know nothing about running a government, and only get in the way of real progress on a number of issues. Most of them still think we are living in the year 1713 anyway..So who needs 'em...Again, good bye, and good riddance.

[Hireman]

I'd like to see more politicians resign after 1 or 2 terms

[Roco]

Abandon Ship!! Abandon Ship!!!