Republicans in Nevada generally believed that Republican Sen. John Ensign was going to retire one way or another this year — either voluntarily or involuntarily, through defeat in a Republican primary.

Roll Call reports that he will be doing it voluntarily. He joins Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tex., and five Democratic senators. Ensign’s seat will be the hardest for the GOP to defend, but given his recent scandals, it might be easier now that he’s stepped aside.