Rep. Walsh set to retire

Rep. Jim Walsh (R-N.Y.) is planning to announce his retirement soon, according to a Republican source.

Walsh’s retirement would give Democrats a pick-up opportunity in upstate New York, where they made gains in 2006. Walsh, a moderate Republican in his 10th term, would have faced a tough challenge in November from Dan Maffei (D), a self-employed business owner who lost to Walsh by less than 2 percentage points in 2006.

{mosads}Maffei, a former press secretary on the House Ways and Means Committee, had already raised $348,038 for the rematch, while Walsh had raised $603,765.

Walsh will be the 21st House Republican incumbent to leave the House this cycle, according to the Cook Political report.

His departure will also open up another much-coveted seat on the House Appropriations Committee. Three other committee members have announced their retirements, and when Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) was appointed to the Senate three weeks ago, the immediate vacancy resulted in a free-for-all among seven Republicans hoping to fill it.

Walsh has scheduled a press conference for 2:30 p.m. at which he’s expected to formally announce his retirement.