Sen. Barbara Boxer To Retire In 2016

Via CNN:

Sen. Barbara Boxer announced Thursday that she will not run for reelection in 2016, setting up a big money political battle for her seat in the nation's most populous state. Boxer, the 74-year-old Democratic junior Senator from California, said that she is not retiring altogether and will continue working on "the issues that I love" through her political action committee, PAC for a Change. Boxer was first elected to the Senate in 1992. "I am never going to retire," Boxer said. "The work is too important." Boxer's announcement leaves open a contest in a blue state filled with rising Democratic stars -- including California attorney general Kamala Harris and lieutenant gov. Gavin Newsom -- as well as plenty of hopefuls on the Republican side. The progressive Senator explained her decision in a mock interview with her oldest grandson in a video posted to YouTube.

The Human Rights Campaign reacts:

“Senator Boxer has been a trailblazing champion of equality for LGBT people since her earliest days in public office,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “She was a leader against DOMA and ‘Don't Ask, Don’t Tell’ when many of her colleagues either championed or quietly voted for the discriminatory legislation. LGBT Americans need more principled leaders like Barbara Boxer fighting for full equality. We congratulate and thank her for her exceptional years of service and look forward to continuing to work with her throughout the remainder of her term.” Senator Boxer has steadfastly stood on the right side of history on issue after issue of LGBT equality, including leading the fight against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 1993, being one of only 14 Senators to vote against the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, and securing passage of the HOPE act to lift the ban on HIV+ organ donations. She has consistently scored a perfect 100 on the HRC Congressional Scorecard.