The decision Tuesday by three-term Republican Sen. Judd Gregg to join President Obama’s Cabinet as secretary of commerce makes him the fifth Republican incumbent who will not be defending his Senate seat in 2010, handing Democrats a number of opportunities to expand their majority.
By contrast, 16 of the 17 Democratic senators whose terms expire in 2010 are expected to run again. The 17th, Sen. Edward Kaufman of Delaware, pledged not to run for a full term when he was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Mr. Gregg’s move follows the announcement Sunday by Rep. Adam H. Putnam, a Florida Republican long considered a rising star in his caucus, that he was giving up his seat to run for state agriculture commissioner. Until he resigned his leadership post in November, the 34-year-old five-term lawmaker held the third ranking leadership post in the Republican ranks.
Mr. Putnam’s move is widely seen as a precursor to a run for governor, but it also reflects the lack of clout that even a lawmaker in leadership can claim when his party is likely to remain in the minority for the foreseeable future.
“It was a great opportunity to get back to Florida and to focus on issues that I’m passionate about and hopefully can have an impact on,” Mr. Putnam said.
Mr. Gregg joining the Democratic administration is considered a coup for Mr. Obama. Mr. Gregg, 61, a former governor and the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, is seen as an influential and respected voice in both parties on financial and economic matters. He is expected to be confirmed easily and play a major role in selling Mr. Obama’s massive economic stimulus package to skeptical fellow Republicans.
“He’s one of our MVPs,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Republican. “I congratulate President Obama on the choice, but we’re going to miss him up here.”
Mr. Gregg’s departure will not immediately alter the party balance in the Senate. As expected, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, Tuesday afternoon named Republican J. Bonnie Newman, a former chief of staff to Mr. Gregg and interim president of the University of New Hampshire, to serve the last two years of Mr. Gregg’s term.
But Mrs. Newman has pledged not to run for a full six-year term in 2010, in a state where Democrats have been making major gains in recent election cycles. Both of the state’s Democratic congressmen, Reps. Paul W. Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter, were considered potential challengers for Mr. Gregg’s seat even before he took the Cabinet job.
Mr. Obama announced the Gregg nomination in the White House Grand Foyer, calling his former Senate colleague “famous, or infamous, for his strict fiscal discipline.”
He said while they disagreed on some matters, even who should have won the 2008 presidential election, they agree on the “urgent need” for economic action amid the recession.
Mr. Gregg, named to the commerce post after New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his name to deal with a federal corruption probe in his state, said he will put aside partisanship as part of the new administration.
“This is not the time when we should stand in our ideological corners and shout at each other,” he said.
In addition to Mr. Gregg, Republican Sens. Christopher S. Bond of Missouri, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Mel Martinez of Florida and George V. Voinovich of Ohio all have said they will not run in 2010. The Cook Political Report already lists the Florida, Missouri and Ohio Senate races as “tossups.”
“That’s going to leave some holes, no question,” Mr. Alexander said, “but it also means we can have some new, fresh vibrant faces that will bring energy and vigor to the party.”
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