Two prominent Democratic senators announced on Jan. 5 and 6 that they will not seek re-election in November: Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Byron Dorgan. Their departures could potentially upset the delicate 60-vote Democratic majority needed to block GOP-led filibusters, if Republicans were to win their seats. Both lawmakers were considered vulnerable in the upcoming elections.

Two prominent Democratic senators announced on Jan. 5 and 6 that they will not seek re-election in November: Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Byron Dorgan. Their departures could potentially upset the delicate 60-vote Democratic majority needed to block GOP-led filibusters, if Republicans were to win their seats. Both lawmakers were considered vulnerable in the upcoming elections.

Dorgan chairs the Appropriations Committee’s Energy and Water Subcommittee the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s Aviation Operations, Safety and Security subcommittee. He also serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Sen. Dodd recently took the helm of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee following the death of former chairman Sen. Edward Kennedy’s (D-Mass.), and helped shepherd through health care reform legislation, long championed by Kennedy. He also chairs the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.