She has become a legend on Capitol Hill as the longest serving woman in congress.
But yesterday Senator Barbara Mikulski announced that she would not seek a sixth term next year.
The Maryland Democrat told reporters that the decision was a hard one but noted that she would still have nearly two more years before giving up the long held post.
During that time she said she wanted to give her constituents 120 percent of her time.
The 78-year old Mikulski has been someone who has led on issues affecting women with a key role in getting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act enacted into law.
She also held a gathering of the women in congress discussing issues that faced them in their jobs.
Mikulski rose to become chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee before Republicans took control of the senate this year.
She got praise from her colleagues ranging from state Senator Jim Mathias and Delegate Sharee Sample-Hughes to Mayor Jim Ireton. President Obama described her as wielding her gavel, for paycheck fairness, child care, health care education and women’s rights.
Now, the scramble is on for who will succeed her with names such as former Governor’s Martin O’Malley and Bob Ehrlich as well as Representatives Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards now being bandied about.
Mike Pretl is with the local Wicomico County Democrats and has followed Mikulski’s career over the years.
