U.S. senator William Cohen announced this year that he will not seek re-election

U.S. senator William Cohen announced this year that he will not seek re-election in the fall. Cohen\u27s departure, following former Senate majority leader George Mitchell\u27s retirement by only two years, leaves a large gap in Maine\u27s congressional delegation. Cohen tends to downplay any loss of clout due to his or Mitchell\u27s departures, and said that Maine\u27s delegation has been both disproportionately effective and highly respected in Congress. U.S. senator Olympia Snowe will assume the role of delegation leader, and will work to ensure that Maine retains influence both on the Senate floor and with federal agencies. Details, related article on U.S. representatives John Baldacci and James B. Longley Jr