Senator John Kyle (AZ-R) Announced He Will Retire after Term is Over in 2013

Republican US Senator John Kyle announced today that he will not run again and will retire when his current term is over in 2013. Kyle, the number 2 Republican, Senate Minority Whip in the US Senate, stated that over the next 22 months he will be focused on his job, the issues and helping fellow Republicans get elected.

The Arizona lawmaker, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, is the fifth senator scheduled for re-election next year to announce a departure from Congress when the 113th convenes in 2013.

“This is the time to end my public service, in January 2013, and therefore, I will not seek reelection to the U.S. Senate,” said Kyl, who was speaking from Phoenix with his wife by his side.

He added it has been a “tremendous honor” to represent the people of Arizona, but “there comes a time when you have to consider other things.”

Just the other day, Virginia Democrat US Senator Jim Webb announced that he will not run in 2012. This represents a greater chance for a Democrat loss than Kyl’s retirement represents a Democrat win. The scramble is on for a Democrat candidate. Kyle in the fifth Senator not to run in 2012  joining Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Jim Webb (D-VA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).

Obviously, this is a blow to the GOP as Kyle would have been a solid hold in 2012, , Hot Air reports that Larry Sabato’s already downgraded the seat from solid Republican to leans Republican. As reported at The Hill, Democrats see an opportunity to winning the seat. Honestly, the Democrats are going to be so busy trying to defend their 23 seats in 2012 that it is  highly unlikely that the seat will flip to Democrats.

UPDATE I: Will Arizona Republican Rep. Jeff Flake run for the Senate? Seems like a perfectly good choice.