Boren Not Seeking Reelection in 2012

[Valin]

Weekly Standard:

The conservative Democrat's seat could be an easy GOP pickup.
MICHAEL WARREN
6/7/11

Dan Boren (D-Okla.), the four-term conservative representing Oklahoma's Second Congressional District, won't be seeking reelection in 2012, the Hill reports:

(Snip)

Boren has only voted with his party 48 percent of the time this Congress, according to the Washington Post's data. He voted against the Democrats' health care legislation in 2009, as well as the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation later that same year. Boren voted for the 2009 stimulus package.

Boren, a pro-life, lifetime NRA member, is perhaps the most conservative Democrat in the House. His father, David, is the current president of the University of Oklahoma and was once a U.S. senator and governor from that state. The younger Boren is only 37 years old and, despite his party affiliation, was still very popular in his district, where in 2010 he won by 13 percentage points over his challenger in a historic year for the GOP. Boren's retirement could mean a 2012 pickup of the seat for Republicans in deep-red Oklahoma.