WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Ben Nelson said on Tuesday that he will retire next year, dealing a significant blow to his party's hopes of keeping control of the Senate after the November 2012 elections. Nelson, a former Nebraska governor, said he felt it was time for him to leave elective office and seek new ways to serve his state and his country. I'm announcing today that I will ...

Democratic Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska announced today he won’t seek re-election next year, a retirement hurting his party’s bid to keep its majority in the chamber.

(Reuters) - Democratic Senator Ben Nelson will retire next year, news reports said on Tuesday, dealing a significant blow to his party's hopes of keeping control of the Senate after the November 2012 elections. Nelson's decision not to seek re-election makes his seat in heavily Republican Nebraska a strong contender to be a gain for Republicans next year, boosting their hopes of wresting control ...

Democrat Elizabeth Warren keeps targeting Wall Street's money-driven culture as she runs against Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), a big recipient of campaign contributions from the financial industry. The race is for a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, but it's really a referendum on Wall Street.

Congressional negotiations over a bill extending a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits can begin as soon the Senate rejects a version the House approved despite a White House veto threat, the Senate's top Democrat said Wednesday.