As lawmakers prepare for what is likely to be a tough election cycle in 2024, many Senate Democrats in key battleground states are considering retirement as the party seeks to defend its slim majority in the upper chamber.
The 2024 election will have 34 Senate seats up for grabs, including 22 that are now held by the Democrats, 11 that belong to the Republicans, and the Arizona seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who announced in December she is now an independent. Making things more challenging, a handful of Democrats will be fighting for reelection in reliably red states — giving Republicans a chance to flip some crucial seats.
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One Democrat has already announced her intent to retire instead of launching a reelection bid, and others are expected to follow suit in the coming months.
Here are the Democrats planning to retire in 2024 and who may do the same:
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced last week that she will not seek reelection in 2024, making her the first Democratic incumbent senator to announce her retirement for the next election cycle.
Stabenow’s retirement opens up a seat in Michigan that the Democrat has held since 2001, giving Republicans a key pickup opportunity.
“Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I have decided to pass the torch in the U.S. Senate. I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election and will leave the U.S. Senate at the end of my term on January 3, 2025,” Stabenow said in a statement. “I am so grateful for the trust the people of Michigan have placed in me. I am also deeply grateful to my incredible staff, who are the best team in the United States Senate. They continue to set the highest standards for service in Michigan and across our country.”
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Considered to be one of the most vulnerable Democrats heading into the 2024 election cycle, all eyes are on Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) as he mulls his future plans.
The West Virginia Democrat has not yet indicated whether he plans to run for reelection. However, if he does, Manchin would be running in a state that former President Donald Trump won by 38.9 percentage points in 2020 — making him a top target for the Republican Party.
The race for the Senate seat has already begun to take shape after Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) announced his intent to run just one week after the midterm elections.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Although she has not yet revealed her future plans, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is widely expected to announce her retirement from her California Senate seat in the coming months. If so, her retirement would open up a Senate seat in California that hasn’t been up for grabs since 1992.
A slew of Democrats is already lining up to take her place, with Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) announcing her candidacy on Tuesday. A handful of other Democrats, such as Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), are expected to follow suit.
However, Feinstein has remained tight-lipped about what her plans may be.
“Everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement concerning my plans for 2024 at the appropriate time,” Feinstein said in a statement responding to Porter’s candidacy. “Right now I’m focused on ensuring California has all the resources it needs to cope with the devastating storms slamming the state and leaving more than a dozen dead.”
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)
If he chooses to run for reelection, Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is expected to face a tough Senate challenge as the Montana Democrat is considered to be one of Republicans’ top targets heading into 2024.
Tester’s seat is considered to be one of the most vulnerable Democratic seats, as he is running in a state that Trump won by 16.4 percentage points in 2020. However, Tester told MSNBC in December that he “feels good about his chances” and will announce his decision sometime in the coming weeks.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Many Democrats have been left wondering whether Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) will seek another Senate term in 2024, particularly after the Pennsylvania Democrat announced he was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year.
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Although Casey assured supporters his diagnosis would not hinder him from finishing out his current term, the incumbent has not yet indicated whether he’ll run for reelection.
The race for Pennsylvania’s Senate seat is expected to be competitive after Republicans lost the recent matchup between Dr. Mehmet Oz and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) in 2022.
