Harry Reid won’t seek re-election in 2016

Reid, 75, has served as Nevada’s senator since 1987. He has led Senate Democrats since 2005.

In a video announcement Friday, Reid said his decision to retire has nothing to do with his Jan. 1 exercise injury, his demotion to minority leader after November’s midterm elections or the ability to get re-elected.

His decision means that Democrats will have to ultimately choose a new person to lead them in the Senate, and it will also make the Nevada Senate race in 2016 one of the nation’s most hotly contested.

“My friend, Senator McConnell, don’t be too elated,” Reid jabbed in his announcement. For his final 22 months in office, Reid said he will be doing, “the same thing I’ve done since I first came to the Senate.”

Reid’s time as leader of Democrats was marked by an era of bitter partisan disputes that often led to sharp comments. His early days as leader were dominated by his opposition during the second term of George W. Bush, especially Bush’s plan to allow individuals to place a portion of their Social Security contributions into private accounts and the ongoing Iraq war. He drew headlines for calling President Bush a “loser” — a comment that forced him to call the White House to express regret.

After President Obama swept to power, Reid worked to muscle his agenda through the Senate, first with the $800 billion economic stimulus bill, and eventually with the healthcare law — which was characterized by many backroom deals and the use of a parliamentary maneuver known as reconciliation to pass the final bill without having to garner 60 votes.

But the passage of the healthcare law also heavily contributed to the defeat of Democrats in the House of Representatives in the 2010 election — setting up high-stakes battles with new House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on taxes, spending and the debt limit. During the battles, Reid would frequently lament the influence of “Tea Party extremists” within the Republican Party.

In Nov. 2013, Reid triggered the so-called “nuclear option” by ending the 60-vote threshold for most judicial nominees and executive appointments. He spent much of the 2014 election year attacking the billionaire Koch Brothers, who are large contributors to Republicans. The attacks ultimately proved unsuccessful, as Republicans enjoyed a massive victory that swept them into control of the Senate, demoting Reid to minority status.

Reid expressed his desire to help Senate Democrats win back majority — “I feel it is inappropriate to soak up all those resources on me, when I could be devoting those resources on the caucus,” something he intends to do, he said.

Reid also said that while he knows he hasn’t been perfect, he has tried his hardest to represent the people of Nevada.

“I have had time to ponder and to think. We’ve got to be more concerned about the country, the Senate, the state of Nevada than about ourselves. And as a result of that I’m not going to run for re-election.

“I am going to be here for another 22 months, and you know what I’m going to be doing? The same thing I’ve done since I first came to the Senate,” Reid said in his message.

“I want to be able to go out at the top of my game,” Reid told the New York Times. “I don’t want to be a 42-year-old trying to become a designated hitter.”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the organization dedicated to electing Republicans to the Senate, released a pugnacious statement in response to the news.

“On the verge of losing his own election and after losing the majority, Senator Harry Reid has decided to hang up his rusty spurs,” the statement read. “Not only does Reid instantly become irrelevant and a lame duck, his retirement signals that there is no hope for the Democrats to regain control of the Senate. With the exception of Reid, every elected statewide official in Nevada is Republican and this race is the top pickup opportunity for the GOP.”