When Red Wing Mayor John Howe announced his candidacy for Steve Murphy’s Senate seat, most people predicted that it would lead to a competitive race this fall:

According to online state Campaign Finance Board records, Howe formed the (John) Howe for Senate committee for Senate District 28. The committee was established on New Year’s Eve.

The first-term mayor formed the committee as a Republican, records show. He is the first person to challenge for the seat in the 2010 race.

This morning, Sen. Steve Murphy announced his retirement:

State Sen. Steve Murphy won’t run for reelection this year, he announced this morning. First elected in 1992, the Red Wing DFLer said he looked forward to spending more time with his wife, children and grandson. He is the chairman of a key transportation policy committee, and has been a vocal critic of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s transportation policies.

TRANSLATION: Sen. Murphy got the urge to spend more time with his family after John Howe stepped forward to give him a fight in this year’s election.

What a coincidence. It’s amazing how that happened.

If John Howe works hard, which I’m certain he will, then I’d count this as a GOP pickup this November.

This figured to be a difficult cycle for Sen. Murphy before the TEA Party movement. He’d said some stunningly foolish things this term. Here’s my favorite:

Tucked away in a big transportation funding bill being fast-tracked to a Senate floor vote today are future increases in Minnesota’s gas tax that could push it from 20 cents a gallon to more than 40 cents over 10 years, higher than any state’s current bite at the pump.

“I’m not trying to fool anybody,” said Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, sponsor of the measure that would increase funding for roads and transit by $1.5 billion a year once it was fully implemented in the next decade. “There’s a lot of taxes in this bill.”

Here’s my other Murphy favorite:

“Everything is fun and games until someone gets an eye poked out, and the governor just poked out my eye by vetoing this bill,” said Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing.

I’d say good bye but “Good Riddance” is a better fit.

Technorati: John Howe, Red Wing, Mayor, MNGOP, Steve Murphy, State Senate, Retirement, Tax Increases, DFL, Election 2010