Eric Massa to resign on Monday

by: Chris Bowers

Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 15:41

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) will resign Monday at 5pm, a source close to the embattled incumbent tells Hotline OnCall.

Massa has been pressured by House Dems to step aside amid an ethics controversy that caused him to announce earlier this week he would not run for a second term.

If true, then it would set up a summer special election in the NY-29, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of Republican +5.5.  It would be a difficult seat to keep.

Just as importantly, in the short term it would mean only 216 votes are required to pass health reform in the House.  Since Massa was a no vote, this actually helps the chances of reform.  Now, only 216 will be needed for passage, instead of 217 if Massa was still in the House.

Update: Greg Sargent confirms that Massa will resign.