Vermont Gov. Shumlin not seeking reelection in 2016

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, in a news conference on Monday, announced that he will not be seeking reelection in 2016, after serving three two-year terms.

Shumlin said his decision is not political, but that he does want to accomplish his political goals before his term ends.

"I want these next 18 months in office to be focused entirely on continuing the work we started together,” Shumlin said.

Our colleagues from Burlington Free Press have the story:

Shumlin's decision was predictable, said Eric Davis, professor emeritus of political science at Middlebury College...There was a "reasonably high probability" Shumlin would have lost a bid for reelection in 2016, Davis said.

Shumlin nearly lost his seat last fall -- while he served as chairman of the Democratic Governors' Association -- in a bad year for Democrats nationwide.

The Democratic governor's announcement came seven months after an unexpectedly close election in which neither he nor Republican challenger Scott Milne received a majority of the vote. The election moved to the Legislature, where lawmakers chose Shumlin by a wide margin in January.

Shumlin said he would make sure a Democrat succeeds him in office, but Vermont Republicans used his decision as a chance to slam Shumlin and the Democratic Party.

The Vermont Republican Party claimed the decision resulted from a struggling economy and a Democratic party that's out of touch with Vermonters.

"This is one decision for which Governor Peter Shumlin deserves praise," said Jeff Bartley, the party's executive director. "In deciding not to seek reelection, Governor Shumlin has done what is best for Vermont. No amount of spin, however, can obscure the reasons for this decision."

"Governor Peter Shumlin is finally admitting he has failed to be an effective leader for Vermont," Republican Governors' Association spokesman Jon Thompson said in a statement.