First Read:
Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., is announcing he's resigning from Congress to work on K Street, becoming the latest House Republican to either vacate his seat or decide not to seek re-election in 2008.
This news -- reported by the Cook Political Report and shared with First Read -- comes after word that former Speaker Dennis Hastert and Rep. Deborah Pryce will not seek another term in office.
It seems to be unclear whether Pickering will resign before 2008 or not seek re-election then. As James L. at Swing State Project explains, it's not a likely Democratic pickup:
While Democrats held this district for over 100 years before Pickering claimed this open seat in 1996, it has a solid Republican advantage with a PVI of R+14. Bush twice dominated this district by 64%-35% and 65%-34% margins in 2000 and 2004, respectively. If there is a glimmer of hope for Democrats, it is that Rep. Gene Taylor, a conservative Democrat, holds a district even redder (R+16, with a 37-point margin of victory for Bush in 2004). However, it would be a tall order for Democrats to be able to recruit someone with Taylor's political skills to contest this seat.
Still, all these Republican retirements are a sign of the times: they don't think they'll be getting the majority back real soon.
(h/t Atrios)