Radanovich Retirement Reduces Ranks of ’94 GOP Freshmen
The retirement of Rep. George Radanovich (R-Calif.) will continue the gradual winnowing of the huge House Republican freshman class of 1994 — the year the GOP last wrested control of the chamber from Democrats.Radanovich is one of just 14 House Republicans still serving among the 73 who were first elected in November 1994.After the November 2010 elections, that number will be no greater than 11, or less than one-sixth the size of that freshman class. Radanovich is not seeking re-election, Rep. Zach Wamp (Tenn.) is running for governor, and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (Kan.) is seeking a Senate seat.The others are Rodney Frelinghuysen (N.J.), Doc Hastings (Wash.), Walter Jones Jr. (N.C.), Tom Latham (Iowa), Steven LaTourette (Ohio), Frank LoBiondo (N.J.), Sue Myrick (N.C.), John Shadegg (Ariz.), Mark Souder (Ind.), Mac Thornberry (Texas) and Ed Whitfield (Ky.).All 11 are overwhelmingly favored to win new terms in 2010, according to CQ Politics’ current race ratings.Seven members of the 1994 House GOP freshman class are currently serving in the Senate: Sam Brownback (Kan.), who’s running for governor and leaving open the seat that Tiahrt is seeking, Richard Burr (N.C), Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), John Ensign (Nev.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.).A few members of that watershed class who are no longer in Congress are campaigning for political office in 2010: Charles Bass (N.H.) is likely to run for a now-open House seat that he held for a dozen years. Steve Chabot (Ohio) is waging a rematch campaign against Rep. Steve Driehaus (D), who unseated him in 2008. J.D. Hayworth (Ariz.), who was defeated for re-election in 2006, is weighing a primary challenge to Sen. John McCain. John Hostettler (Ind.), who also lost in 2006, is waging a long-shot campaign against Sen. Evan Bayh (D). Mark Neumann (Wis.), who served two House terms and lost a race for Senate in 1998, is running for an open governorship.