© 2024 KUNR
Illustration of rolling hills with occasional trees and a radio tower.
Serving Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KUNR’s spring fund drive is happening now, and your gift to the station will go twice as far with a matching pledge from the KUNR Advisory Board!

Now is the time to act –
click here to make a gift to KUNR today or increase your sustaining membership and have it matched.

Senator Reid Won't Run In 2016, Endorses Schumer

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is backing New York Sen. Chuck Schumer to succeed him as Democratic leader. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports that Reid issued his endorsement Friday morning, shortly after announcing he will retire next year instead of running for re-election.

Reid was first elected to the Senate almost thirty years ago.

Reid said he wants to make sure Democrats regain control of the Senate next year and that it would be "inappropriate" for him to soak up campaign resources when he could be focusing on putting the Democrats back in power.

The 75-year-old lawmaker also mentioned the exercise accident he had earlier this year which has left him badly bruised and struggling to regain sight in his right eye.

Senator Chuck Schumer is currently the Senate Democrats' third-in-command, behind Dick Durbin of Illinois.

The outspoken and politically astute Schumer was already viewed as Reid's most likely successor, but Reid's decision to bypass Durbin and give his blessing to Schumer could seal that deal.

Michelle Billman is a former news director at KUNR Public Radio.
Related Content