Bart Stupak Retiring? Michigan Democrat Says He Will Run For Re-Election Despite Retirement Rumors

Bart Stupak Retiring? Michigan Democrat Says He Will Run For Re-Election Despite Retirement Rumors

UPDATE: Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) has no plans to retire, he told the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday. Though his decision hasn't officially been made, Stupak said, that's only because he hasn't yet had the obligatory discussion with his family prior to actually filing as a candidate for reelection.

Michelle Begnoche, Press Secretary for Stupak's office, didn't totally rule out a potential retirement, but says "campaign plans are proceeding," CQ Politics reports.

On Wednesday reports surfaced that Stupak, the Michigan Democrat at the center of last month's contentious battle over health care reform, was considering retirement.

Stupak and his family have been drained by the aftermath of his eventual "yes" vote on health care reform, which he gave after President Obama promised to sign an executive order to prohibit federal dollars from funding abortions.

From MSNBC:

"[I]f he had to make the decision now, he'd probably NOT run. As of this writing, a bunch of senior Democrats (many of the same ones who twisted his arm on the health care vote) are trying to talk him into running. The filing deadline in Michigan is still a month away, but veterans of that state's politics are skeptical anyone other than Stupak can hold that district in this political climate."

Though Stupak's district -- Michigan's 1st -- has historically voted Republican, his position as a conservative Democrat has allowed him to hold it for 18 years. Stupak currently faces a primary challenge from Connie Saltonstall, a former Michigan County Commissioner.

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