Jim Walsh-R (NY-25 CD) will retire and not run for re-election.

(cross-posted from DailyKos):
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/24/95438/3251/334/442079

(snip)
Major shocker, and genuinely terrific news for Democrats: Republican Jim Walsh, who narrowly squeaked by Democratic challenger (and current Blue Majority candidate) Dan Maffei, 51-49, in 2006, will retire according to the Politico's blog, The Crypt:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0108/Jim_Walsh_to_retire.html

Republican Rep. Jim Walsh of New York is expected to announce his retirement soon, according to a GOP aide familiar with the decision, giving Democrats another pick-up opportunity following a wave of Republican retirements this cycle.

The veteran appropriator had a tough reelection fight in 2006 and was expected to face another challenge in the fall. If this does in fact occur, it will make Walsh the 21st Republican representative not to seek reelection in 2008. Worse luck for the GOP: New York's 25th is naturally Democratic turf, though not overwhelmingly.
(snip)
Currently, (the) declared (Democratic) candidate is (Dan)Maffei, a young (born on the Fourth of July, 1968) former reporter, Press Secretary for Bill Bradley, and staffer to Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Charles Rangel. As mentioned, Maffei ran an excellent race in 2006, losing by less than four thousand votes to Walsh despite being outspent nearly 2-1. Prior to Maffei's run, some had considered Walsh unbeatable, but Maffei's underdog candidacy came very close to taking him out.

Maffei is a solidly progressive Democrat. . . As of the September 30 FEC filings, he had over $300,000 cash-on-hand, giving him a considerable head start on any other Syracuse Democrats who may be interested in this race (and given the district's Democratic bent, there will doubtless be a few)...
(snip)

http://www.actblue.com/page/bluemajority?refcode=DKosSidebar

http://www.maffeiforcongress.com/

:kick::kick::kick: