March 15, 1999
Web posted at: 6:07 p.m. EST (2307 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 15) -- Two incumbent Republican senators have added their names to the retirement roster, making the battle over control of the U.S. Senate in 2000 even tougher to predict .

Sen. John Chafee announced Monday that he will retire next year

Rhode Island Sen. John Chafee announced at a Providence news conference Monday he would not seek re-election in 2000. His decision leaves the GOP scrambling to hold onto a seat in this highly Democratic state.

Chafee's announcement follows that of Florida Republican Sen. Connie Mack, who confirmed over the weekend he would not run for re-election. That opens up another seat once considered completely safe by the GOP.

Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Florida), a senior Judiciary Committee member and House manager during President Bill Clinton's Senate impeachment trial, announced Monday he intends to run for Mack's seat. That race is expected to be a free-for-all, with a number of candidates on both sides expected to run.

On the Democratic side, New York Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Nevada Sen. Richard Bryan have all said they would retire in 2000.

Republicans are fielding strong candidates in each of those races. In New York, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has said he would enter the race, possibly pitting him against first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton -- if she decides to run.

Rep. Nita Lowey is expected to run for the Democrats should the first lady decide to stay out of the contest.

Gov. Christine Todd Whitman is expected to run to replace retiring Democrat Sen. Frank Lautenberg

In New Jersey, Republican Gov. Christine Todd Whitman is all but certain to enter the race to replace Lautenberg. New Jersey newspapers over the weekend were reporting she had definitely decided to run, even though her office denied those reports and said she has not yet made up her mind.

An official at the National Republican Senatorial Committee told CNN they expect her to enter the race, but wouldn't characterize it as a "done deal."

In Nevada, former Rep. John Ensign, a Republican who narrowly lost to Democratic Sen. Harry Reid last November, has already announced he will run for the Bryan seat.

Democrats were hoping that former Gov. Bob Miller would run against Ensign, but Monday he announced he would not be a candidate, saying "It was a very enticing position, one that I had not previously aspired to. The swing balance was I like living in Nevada."

Republicans right now have a 55 to 45 seat advantage in the Senate, meaning Democrats would have to pick up 6 seats in 2000 to reclaim a majority. Nineteen seats currently held by Republicans are up in 2000, as opposed to 14 seats currently held by Democrats.

Monday, March 15, 1999

• Medicare showing its age at 40
• Public opinion does not side with most proposed Medicare reforms
• Former potential foe Gephardt will endorse Gore
• Poll: Gore gets high marks on issues, character but lags behind other candidates
• Forbes expected to launch candidacy this week
• 2000 Senate races heating up
• Sen. Chafee announces retirement
• Los Angeles' pitch for DNC 2000 convention may have paid off
• Testimony resumes in McDougal trial
• Clinton tops poll on foreign policy
• McCain slams Clinton policies in speech on geopolitics
• Sununu co-chairing Quayle campaign
• Report: New Jersey gov. to run for Senate
• Sen. Mack makes retirement official
• Parties fight for control of House

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