Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) To Retire

First-term Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) announced today that he will not seek reelection in 2012.

Webb's decision, long anticipated by many in Virginia politics, will make his seat more difficult to hold for his party. Ex-Sen. George Allen (R), who lost the seat in 2006 to Webb, is running to win it back, and a handful of other GOP candidates are also running. Some Democrats hope ex-Gov. Tim Kaine will decide to run for the seat, but he has given no indication yet that he is interested.

Out of 33 Senate seats up for bids in 2012, 23 are presently held by Democrats. That may not bode well for Dems holding their majority.