Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Democrat, to Retire from Senate in 2012

Bad news for Senate Democrats: another member of their ranks is hanging up his hat in 2012. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico told Majority Leader Harry Reid Thursday night that he will not run for re-election, leaving six currently Democratic seats open in next year's elections. Only two Republicans have announced retirement so far, putting the GOP in a position to pick up seats in the upper chamber. Both parties will make a play for Bingaman's seat, and Democrats should start out ahead: President Obama won the state by 15 percentage points in 2008. Other Democrats leaving office include Virginia's Jim Webb and North Dakota's Kent Conrad.