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Yes, politics shouldn’t be a lifetime job. I’m all for term limits. The issue here is timing of the announcement. Running for Congress is a big life decision, and if one wins, it is a major change of course. The logistics of running are formidable: getting one’s affairs in order so that one can walk away from anything in the private sector; lining up support in local party circles; running the traplines around the district and state; fleshing out one’s positions on issues; recruiting a campaign staff; setting about the miserable business of raising money, etc. And it’s already April. It’s awfully late for someone else to mount a cold start candidacy.

At this point, however, we don’t know the backstory. Perhaps this decision had been privately shopped well before this and someone is waiting in the wings ready to go. That sometimes happens. The incumbent knows he’s going to step down, but he holds off long enough to kneecap any total newbies, and the succession plan works smoothly.

If it’s not prewired, the default choice slips to a current state senator or state representative or perhaps a mayor, but someone already in the game with an established political base covering a good chunk of the district and a campaign staff ready to go.

But sometimes the wheels fall off and we get a bizarro world primary won by some clown car idiot. This happens to the GOP a lot more than it should because too many Republicans refuse to think strategically and work as a team. Working as a team doesn’t mean one has to be a controlled stooge for the leadership, but it does mean accepting enough of an obligation to the RightWorld voters that you don’t cut them off at the knees with no recovery time.

If someone ran as an independent and has been a freelancer all along, fine. But if he ran on a party label as part of a party ticket with party endorsements, party financial support, and party regulars knocking on doors, he has responsibilities to the rest of the team.

None of this matters if the democrats are basically conceding the district. But if the dems are mounting a serious campaign with a serious, well-funded candidate, it could be trouble.

At this point a year ago, I’d have been for an open primary. At this late date, however, I hope it’s prewired.