Florida Republican Senator Mel Martinez Resigns

Citing personal reasons, first-term Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida has announced his resignation pending the appointment of a replacement.

According to a report from the L.A. Times, in a letter sent to supporters on Friday, Republican Senator Mel Martinez of Florida announced he is resigning from his position, citing personal reasons. Senator Martinez is in his first term, elected in 2004 and has one year remaining in office and will remain active until Florida Governor Charlie Crist can appoint a replacement. There was considerable speculation that Crist would name himself to the Senate seat, a notion that was quickly dismissed by the Florida Governor. Senator Martinez is the only Hispanic Republican in the US Senate, and was born in Cuba. He is the former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, and served under President George W. Bush as US Secretary for Housing and Urban Development prior to his election to the Senate. Due to the rise in popularity of the Democratic Party in Florida recently, it is questionable if a re-election campaign for Martinez in 2010 would have been viable.