Barney Frank Announces Reelection Bid

Massachusetts representative Barney Frank will not challenge Republican senator Scott Brown in the 2012 election.

"I will be running for reelection to the House of Representatives in 2012," Frank said in a statement. "While I would have preferred to put off a discussion about the next election until a later date, I have been asked on a number of occasions about my plans. In addition, I have become convinced that making my decision to run for reelection known is important for maximizing the impact I can have on the range of issues to which I am committed."

Party leaders considered supporting Frank in a campaign against Brown in 2010, but may have determined that his running for reelection in 2012 is a safer bet, because, according to TheHill.com, "his eventual challenger won't have the benefit of the GOP headwinds that helped many Republican candidates in 2010."