Sarbanes is Done

CNN reports that senior Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes (D) will not be seeking re-election in 2006. Co-author of the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate accountability bill passed in the wake of the Enron scandal, Sarbanes has been a fine Senator and a dedicated public servant. He will be missed greatly on the Hill.

Sarbanes' retirement has some interesting political implication. Though everybody expects the Democrats to keep the seat, the $1,000,000 question is which Democrats will go after the Senate spot, and which ones will challenge incumbent Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich. There are several prominent and popular Democrats who are suspected of harboring loftier ambitions, including Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, and 8th District Congressman Chris Van Hollen. In addition, CNN floated NAACP President Kweisi Mfume as a possible contender, someone I didn't know lived in the Old Line State but would also present a stiff challenge. My personal preference would be to see Van Hollen as Senator and O'Malley as Governor, but who knows the permutations of candidacies that will arise before 2006.