Democratic Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey is expected to announce her retirement on Monday, according to the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.
The 73-year old lawmaker has held the seat since 1993, taking over after fellow Democrat Barbara Boxer won her election to the Senate. She was known for her progressive politics and was a very active opponent of the Iraq War, at one point securing an invitation for protestor Cindy Sheehan to attend President Bush’s State of the Union. The California activist was arrested at the event.
Woolsey has previously discussed a possible retirement and said she wanted to make her intentions clear early in the term in order to give her potential successors a chance to campaign in the district. Two Democrats are already poised to jump into the race should she retire: Assembly member Jared Huffman and local activist Norman Solomon.
