Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is set to announce later today that he will not be running again for reelection. The decision appears to be at least partly redistricting induced.
The Boston Globe reports:
A close adviser told the Globe today that the new district in which Frank would have had to run next year was a major factor in his decision. While it retained his Newton stronghold, it was revised to encompass more conservative towns while Frank also lost New Bedford, a blue-collar city where had invested a lot of time and become a leading figure in the region’s fisheries debate.
Frank, the first openly gay member of Congress, has been in the House for 31 years and is known for his acerbic wit.
As of this writing, the Barney Frank for Congress website still prominently says: "Barney is running again in 2012…because he has much more to do for the Fourth District and for our country."
Granted, the website doesn’t seem to have been updated since July.
