Jim DeMint resigns from Senate

By Alexander Bolton

From The Hill

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has resigned from the Senate to take over the conservative Heritage Foundation. 

DeMint’s decision to leave the Senate after only eight years shocked Washington. DeMint had been seen as a future Senate leader for his party and was already a leader to a growing number of conservatives in the House and Senate. 

“It’s been an honor to serve the people of South Carolina in the United States Senate for the past eight years, but now it’s time for me to pass the torch to someone else and take on a new role in the fight for America’s future,” DeMint said in a statement explaining his resignation.

I’m leaving the Senate now, but I’m not leaving the fight. I’ve decided to join the Heritage Foundation at a time when the conservative movement needs strong leadership in the battle of ideas. No organization is better equipped to lead this fight and I believe my experience in public office as well as in the private sector as a business owner will help Heritage become even more effective in the years to come.”

Senators immediately took to Twitter to praise DeMint and say they were sorry he was leaving.

“Congratulations to @JimDemint. Your departure will be a huge loss for U.S. Senate & conservative movement,” Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) wrote on Twitter.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) will pick a replacement for DeMint. That replacement will need to run in a special election in 2014, according to The Wall Street Journal.

DeMint replaces Ed Feulner, the current president of the Heritage Foundation. Feulner, 71, will become chancellor of the group.

DeMint told The Wall Street Journal that he is joining Heritage to expand the conservative movement.

“This is an urgent time,” DeMint said. He added that in the 2012 election Republicans “were not able to communicate conservative ideas that win elections.”