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Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, a four-term Republican senator from Missouri, is expected to announce within the hour that he will not seek re-election next year. The Kansas City Star reports that the political fallout of such a move would be "huge":

One person to watch: seven-term Congressman Roy Blunt of southwest Missouri, a Republican and father of the current governor, who might be tempted into a race to succeed him.

Other Republicans who might be interested: Congressman Sam Graves, former Sen. Jim Talent and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.

The Democrat most often mentioned for the seat: Robin Carnahan, the secretary of state.

Bond was first elected to the Senate in 1986, succeeding Democrat Thomas Eagleton, who retired.

1986: defeated Harriett Woods 53-47%
1992: defeated Geri Rothman-Serot 52-45%
1998: defeated Jay Nixon (now governor) 53-44%
2004: defeated Nancy Farmer 56-43%

Prior to his Senate tenure, he was elected governor in 1972, defeated for re-election by Joe Teasdale in '76, and beat Teasdale in '80. Before that he was state auditor.

Bond would be the third GOP senator to opt out of seeking re-election in 2010. Mel Martinez of Florida called it quits on Dec. 2, and Kansas' Sam Brownback long ago announced he would quit after two full terms; Brownback is looking at the governorship.

P.S. Bob Levine of St. Louis, Mo. reminds us in the comments below that Bond also ran for Congress in 1968, losing to Rep. William Hungate (D) by a 52-48 percent margin.

categories: Washington Senators

11:08 - January 8, 2009

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