MS-Sen: Trent Lott To Resign

Just when the Mississippi GOP thought it was safe when Thad Cochran decided to run again, this happens.

If he resigns before the end of the year, there will be a special election in the spring, if he resigns after the first of the year, the special election with coincide with the general election in November, which means Mississippi, like Wyoming, will elect two Senators at once. He's expected to leave before the end of year when coincidently new ethics rules passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress that would ban members of Congress from lobbying on the Hill for two year after they leave office.

An open seat would give the Democrats a chance to win a Mississippi Senate seat for the first time since 1982. Former Attorney General Mike Moore, Current Attorney General Jim Hood and Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove are both potential Democratic candidates for the seat. GOP Governor Haley Barbour will appoint a caretaker for the seat who may or may not run for reelection in 2008. They include GOP Congressmen Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering. Pickering has stated he was retiring from his Congressional seat next year.

Updated: Open Republican Seats

Terry Everett- Alabama 2- R+13
Ray LaHood- Illinois 18- R+5
Dennis Hastert- Illinois 14- R+5
Chip Pickering- Mississippi 3- R+14
Deborah Pryce- Ohio 15- R+1
Jerry Weller- Illinois 11- R+1
Rick Renzi- Arizona 1- R+2
Duncan Hunter- California 52- R+9
Jim Ramstad- Minnesota 3- R+1
Ralph Regula- Ohio 16- R+3
David Hobson- Ohio 7- R+7
Heather Wilson- New Mexico 1- D+2

Open Republican Seats

Ray LaHood- Illinois 18- R+5
Dennis Hastert- Illinois 14- R+5
Chip Pickering- Mississippi 3- R+14
Deborah Pryce- Ohio 15- R+0.3
Jerry Weller- Illinois 11- R+.05
Rick Renzi- Arizona 1- R+2
Duncan Hunter- California 52- R+9
Jim Ramstad- Minnesota 3- R+1

MS-3: Pickering to Retire

Congressman Chip Pickering (R-Mississippi) is retiring at the end of his sixth term next year.

Pickering was elected in 1996, replacing longtime Democrat Sonny Montgomery (author of the Montgomery G.I. Bill.)

Pickering was considered the GOP heir-apparent to either one of Mississippi's GOP senators should they retire. GOP Senator Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) has no said whether or not he would run for reelection next year. Pickering's retirement may indicate that Cochran is running for reelection.

Pickering is the third Republican this week to announce they won't seek reelection. Already this week former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) and Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) have both announce they will not seek reelection. Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Illinois) announced a few weeks ago that he will not seek reelection next year.

Pickering's seat is heavily Republican and will likely stay in Republican hands. However, it's interesting to note, the Mississippi 3 is not as Republican as the Mississippi 4, the Biloxi-baed district which is represented by Democrat Gene Taylor.