Mel Martinez is resigning

AUGUST 07, 2009

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez is stepping down, possibly in September. He announced the news to his staff this morning and has scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference in Orlando, GOP officials say.

Martinez, the first Cuban American in the U.S. Senate, has already said he would not seek re-election in 2010, which has prompted a primary battle between Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio. The Democratic candidate is U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek.

Crist would have to pick a temporary replacement for Martinez, adding another layer of intrigue into an already highly-watched race.

Speculation has been flying about an early departure but Martinez's camp has demurred. "A number of rumors have surfaced from Tallahassee in the
months following the senator's retirement announcement. What he has
said consistently is that no announcement is pending and that still
applies," spokesman Ken Lundberg said last week.

Posted by Alex Leary at 9:37:40 am on August 07, 2009 in

Mel Martinez

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