Sen. Byron L. Dorgan made an official announcement on Tuesday night that he would retire instead of going for a re-election. The announcement came as a surprise move that could jeopardize the Democrats' 60-seat majority next year.

“This decision is not a reflection of any dissatisfaction with my work in the Senate, nor is it connected to a potential election contest next fall (frankly, I believe if I were to run for another term I would be re-elected)”, Dorgan wrote to his staff.

He is the first democratic senator to announce his retirement in 2010, while six Republican senators, from Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri and New Hampshire.

It is cited that Dorgan’s decision will have a considerable effect on the national scenario coming less than a month after similar announcements by four House Democrats representing conservative districts. Democratic strategists insist that these decisions are unique to the specific lawmakers and do not point to any wide national trend.

Dorgan hadn’t conveyed any signs for his decision before the holidays. He claimed that he made his decision over the holidays. He apologized for the way he opted to convey his decision.

Democrats acknowledge the fact that were shocked by Dorgan’s decision and said that it shattered their hopes of holding 60 votes in the Senate.

However, the party will field a candidate. The lone possibility cited for the democrats is Rep. Earl Pomeroy, who replaced Dorgan in 1992 as the state's at-large representative.