It appears that Ellen Tauscher, Democrat of California, will be resigning from Congress shortly to accept a top position at the State Department.
California Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher is President Obama’s pick to serve as undersecretary of State for arms control and international security, according to House Democratic sources.
If nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Tauscher will leave Congress after a little more than a dozen years and put to a new use her expertise in defense issues.
That move also would open up a subcomittee chairmanship; Tauscher heads the Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.
There are no concerns about losing this seat. In fact, in 2007 there was talk of primarying Tauscher because her record wasn't living up to her solidly Democratic district. Luckily, she responded by improving her votes and the primary talk died down.
But that doesn't mean it won't be a good opportunity to elect a more progressive candidate. And, as David Waldman points out at Congress Matters Tauscher's departure from the House will leave a vacancy in the leadership of the New Democrat [sic] coalition. The race to replace her there could be interesting indeed.