TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez’s decision Friday to step down 16 months early gave Gov. Charlie Crist a gift: his pick of who should watch over the office while Crist tries to win it for himself.
Crist responded carefully, passing on the opportunity to install himself as the incumbent leading up to the GOP primary. He is likely to pick a placeholder Republican who will not run against him, meaning Martinez’s resignation will have no effect on the balance of power in the Senate, where Democrats control the 60 seats needed to overcome Republican filibusters.
Martinez, 62, already had announced he wouldn’t seek re-election, but his early departure sharpened the focus on a race that the GOP can ill afford to lose next fall.
The only Latino Republican in the Senate, Martinez said he was making good on a promise to voters that he wouldn’t simply keep the seat warm.
“There’s no impending reason; it’s just my desire to move on,” he said.
He said Friday that the next phase of his life will be in the private sector, but he didn’t have any specific plans. He said he would serve until his replacement is named.
