Frank 17th House Democrat to announce retirement

By Emily Goodin - 11/28/11 01:10 PM ET

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is the 17th House Democrat to announce a retirement this cycle compared to seven Republicans.

And all of those Republicans are trying to win higher office.

Of the Democratic retirements, eight are running for another position while nine are flat-out retiring.

Democrats need a net gain of 26 seats to retake control of the lower chamber. (Oregon Democratic Rep. David Wu's seat is vacant, and that special election is Jan. 31).

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out a memo to reporters Monday afternoon downplaying the retirement numbers and noting that "after the House changes control, there are always retirements in the party that was formerly in the majority."

According to the DCCC, after Republicans won the lower chamber in 1994, 20 Democrats retired and after Dems won back control in 2006, 22 Republicans retired.

The DCCC also argues only nine Democrats have retired this cycle (of the 17 Dems leaving, eight are running for higher office).

See a list of House retirements after the jump:

Pure retirements (Dems)

Dan Boren (Okla.)
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Lynn Woolsey (Calif.)
Mike Ross (Ark.)
Jerry Costello (Ill.)
Dennis Cardoza (Calif.)
John Olver (Mass.)
Charlie Gonzalez (Texas)
Barney Frank (Mass.)

Running for another office (Dems)

Jay Inslee (Washington governor)
Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin Senate)
Shelley Berkley (Nevada Senate)
Mazie Hirono (Hawaii Senate)
Chris Murphy (Connecticut Senate)
Martin Heinrich (New Mexico Senate)
Joe Donnelly (Indiana Senate)
Bob Filner (San Diego Mayor)

Running for another office (GOP)

Todd Akin (Missouri Senate)
Jeff Flake (Arizona Senate)
Mike Pence (Indiana Governor)
Mike Rehberg (Montana Senate)
Connie Mack (Florida Senate)
Rick Berg (North Dakota Senate)
Ron Paul (President)

-- This post was updated at 4:31 p.m.