Ensign bows out of race

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.

Republican Sen. John Ensign said Monday that he would not run for re-election next year, ending months of speculation about his political future. Ensign, who had previously declared he would run, has been under a cloud since 2009 when he announced that he had an affair with a staff member.

Once a rising star in the Senate, Ensign’s stature plummeted. Although some politicians survive indiscretions, Ensign was critically wounded politically by the announcement. He refused to answer questions publicly, which led to a steady stream of damaging details leaking out. It was brutal.

The woman wasn’t just a staffer, she was married to Ensign’s chief of staff. And she was also the best friend of Ensign’s wife. The couples had been close. When the woman’s husband found out, he told some members of Congress who, like Ensign, are evangelical Christians. They confronted Ensign, pressuring him to end the affair, which he reluctantly did.

The couple were pushed out of Ensign’s office, and in the wake of their departure, Ensign’s parents gave the couple and their family nearly $100,000. Ensign also allegedly tried to get the man a job as a lobbyist. Both actions are potential violations of Senate rules.

The Senate Ethics Committee has appointed a special panel to investigate. However, the two-term senator said the investigation had “zero effect” on his decision.

In a statement Monday at the Lloyd George Federal Building in Las Vegas, Ensign was apologetic. “I cannot express how truly sorry I am for the pain I have caused everyone,” he said, adding that he didn’t want to put his family through what he said would be an “exceptionally ugly campaign” in 2012.

Ensign wouldn’t have just found an ugly campaign — he would have faced an exceedingly difficult bid to retain his seat. He lost the support of top Senate Republicans and has found it very difficult to raise money.

Polls have shown him trailing potential challengers. Republican Rep. Dean Heller has been exploring a run and was considering facing Ensign in the primary. It’s also possible that Sharron Angle, who was defeated last year by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, could make another run.

He would have likely faced a strong Democrat in the general election. Rep. Shelley Berkley, Treasurer Kate Marshall, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Secretary of State Ross Miller have been mentioned as potential candidates.

Ensign’s affair and the way he handled the situation have consumed considerable time and attention, which eclipsed many more pertinent issues. As a result, Ensign became a pariah in Washington, and that weakened Nevada’s representation in Congress. Had he entered the 2012 race, the scandal certainly would have dominated the campaign, especially as the Senate continues its investigation.

Now, the race will be wide open, and we hope that will pave the way to a wide-ranging debate on the future of Nevada. Given the problems facing the state and the country, Nevada’s voters need to move forward.