Squeezed by redistricting, Horn decides to retire

Acknowledging the political realities of redistricting, Rep. Stephen Horn, R-Calif., announced Tuesday that he would not run for re-election to his Long Beach-based congressional district.

"The redistricting process has created major changes in the areas constituting the 38th District," Horn said in a statement. "In order to remove any doubt about my plans, I want to formally announce that I will be retiring from Congress at the end of this term in January 2003."

The announcement follows a bipartisan redistricting agreement reached last week by California state legislators that would borrow part of Horn's district to create a new Hispanic majority district in Los Angeles.

Although redistricting will likely net California Democrats the state's new House seat, Republicans will probably hold onto their incumbents and win a new Republican-leaning seat in the Central Valley. While Horn has managed to win re-election in recent years, he represents an extremely competitive district, and has been a frequent target of Democrats since he first won the seat in 1992. Horn, 70, last year defeated Democratic nominee Gerrie Schipske by a slim 48-47 percent margin.

Horn had taken a low-key approach to redistricting, downplaying questions about his vulnerability in the redistricting process. Despite speculation that Horn might join the Bush administration, a Horn spokeswoman said he had not discussed his plans after Congress and is concentrating on completing the rest of his fifth term.

"He's focusing on finishing out his term," the spokeswoman said. "He's not really sure what he'll be doing after that."

Horn currently chairs the House Government Reform Government Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee. During his tenure on the panel, Horn has made government oversight and efficiency a priority, and took a leading role in the so-called Y2K computer problem. Horn becomes the 15th sitting member of the House to announce he will not return in 2003, either due to retirement or pursuit of higher office.