Rep. Frank Wolf has announced that he will retire at the end of the term. Democrats are dancing with glee at the prospects of his seat going to one of their own. Wolf’s announcement comes as a surprise as most people thought he would run for his 18th session in Congress. According to the Washington Post:
Rep. Frank Wolf announced Tuesday that he would not run for reelection in 2014, bringing an end to a three-decade career in Congress and instantly making his Northern Virginia seat a prime November battleground.
The 74-year-old Republican’s decision came as a surprise — as recently as last week, leaders in both parties fully expected him to run for an 18th term. But in a statement issued by his office, Wolf said he planned to continue his longtime work on human rights and religious freedom issues.
“As a follower of Jesus, I am called to work for justice and reconciliation, and to be an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Wolf said. “I plan to focus my future work on human rights and religious freedom – both domestic and international – as well as matters of the culture and the American family.”
Wolf’s move came just a week after Fairfax County supervisor John Foust (D) said that he would run for the House seat, giving Wolf his most viable challenger in several years. Wolf has beaten a succession of little-known or underfunded Democratic challengers over the years, consistently performing better in the district than other Republicans have atop the ticket.
Wolf’s 10th district stretches from McLean west along the Dulles Toll Road, through Winchester to the West Virginia border. It includes Loudoun County and portions of Fairfax and Prince William counties. Mitt Romney edged President Obama in the district by roughly 1 percent in 2012, and it is viewed as competitive by both parties.
What Republicans will race in to fill his shoes? Democrats had better not count their chickens before they hatch. Wolf is seen approachable to both parties. He is not a tea-publican by most standards. When the 10th district was realigned, Wolf lost some of his conservative stronghold.
Tally Ho! Will Pete Candland spring to action to fill the void? Rumblings around Haymarketshire say yes. Will his faithful manservant Mac urge him on to join the race? Only the Shadow knows and a birdie or two. Squawk! Tweet! Chirp!
My guess is that a startling array of goofballs will suddenly swarm over this vacancy. Before it gets too crazy, I would like to posit that Frank Wolf is a principled, honourable public servant. He will be missed, but his statement today leaves hope that he will continue to be a strong advocate for human rights.
Frank Wolf was one of the first congressmen to say he would vote the continuing resolution. His ideology only reaches so far, then common sense and pragmatism take over.