Reaction to Reid: quotes from across the political spectrum

Sen. Harry Reid announced Friday that he will not be seeking re-election. Here’s how his friends and foes from across the political spectrum reacted to the news:

▶ “There is no question that the Senate is losing a giant.”

– U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

▶ “Senator Reid’s decision is welcome news to Nevadans who have been poorly represented for decades.”

– Fred Brown, spokesman, Republican National Committee

▶ “We differ on fundamental philosophy. … I certainly wish him well. From a political perspective, you can’t spend more than you take in for 80 years without hurting your children.”

— Las Vegas City Councilman and 2016 U.S. Senate candidate Bob Beers

▶ “Nevada looks how it does today because of Senator Reid.”

— Nevada Assembly Democratic Leader Marilyn Kirkpatrick

▶ “As his constituent, one of our state’s largest employers and even occasionally his political tormentor, Sen. Reid and I have often disagreed with each other on a variety of issues, but we have never, not once, been disagreeable with each other.”

— Las Vegas Sands Corp. CEO Sheldon Adelson

▶ “Harry is one of the best human beings I’ve ever met. His character and fundamental decency are at the core of why he’s been such a successful and beloved leader.”

– U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y

▶ “Harry has made an indelible mark on the Senate, and his journey from a hard-scrabble desert cabin with no indoor plumbing, to serving on the Capitol police force, to the leadership of the United States Senate is a great American story,”

— U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.

▶ “From humble beginnings in Searchlight to the United States Senate, Sen. Reid’s story is one that represents the Nevada and American dream. He is one of Nevada’s native sons, a pioneer of the west who has always worked tirelessly to fight for Nevadans with a gritty determination, a testament to his early years.”

— Gov. Brian Sandoval

▶ “I really never thought he was going to run. I think he realized he wasn’t going to have it as easy as he did in 2010. … I think I’ve disagreed with him 98 out of 100 times, but I have no animosity toward him.”

— Republican activist Chuck Muth

▶ “After 30 years in congress, Senator Reid has made the right choice by not running for another term. With an economy that is still recovering, it is vital to give Nevadans true change in Washington by electing a senator who has their best interest at heart, not their own.”

— Nick Phillips, political director, Clark County Republican Party

▶ “I was shocked. I know Harry Reid is a fighter. … We had our ups and downs when he was chair of the (Nevada) Gaming Commission. At the end of the day, he turned out to be a true friend.”

— Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman

▶ “Harry knows what it’s like to be in a dogfight. He knows what it’s like to be attacked from all sides. I always knew that after a particularly bad week I’d get a call from Harry offering his support, telling me he was behind me all the way.”

— U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

▶ “On the verge of losing his own election and after losing the majority, Senator Harry Reid has decided to hang up his rusty spurs. With the exception of Reid, every elected statewide official in Nevada is Republican and this race is the top pickup opportunity for the GOP.”

— Ward Baker, executive director, National Republican Senatorial Committee

▶ “Harry Reid changed the course of history, not just in Nevada but for the nation. His leadership on issues of health care and environmental protection has left legislative landmarks unlikely ever to be matched.”

– U.S. Rep. Dina Titus

▶ “Senator Reid is a passionate and fierce representative of the State of Nevada, and a leader of whom I am proud to know. He is a tireless supporter of the state and a tremendous public servant, and I know he will continue to fight for Nevada until his retirement.”

— MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren

▶ “Nevada women and families are healthier and have better access to the care they need and deserve because of Senator Reid’s leadership. We are grateful for his unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of all Nevadans.”

— Vicki Cowart, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

▶ “Sen. Harry Reid has been a tireless champion for all people, and especially for the Latino and immigrant communities.”

– Ben Monterroso, executive director, Mi Familia Vota

▶ “No one has done as much to protect wilderness than Senator Reid. His leadership resulted in the protection of so many iconic landscapes in Nevada including the Black Rock Desert, Sloan Canyon and Great Basin National Park.”

– Brian O’Donnell, executive director, Conservation Lands Foundation

▶ “In the dark days after the 2004 election, a Mormon boxer from Nevada became the LGBT community’s quiet champion in the Senate, and we will be forever grateful for his leadership.”

— Chad Griffin, president, The Human Rights Campaign

▶ “Senator Reid leaves behind a knockout legacy fighting for working families, fighting for fair pay, and fighting to make sure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.”

– Brad Woodhouse, president, Americans United for Change

▶ “Senator Reid has been instrumental in moving Nevada beyond coal. He stood with the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Sierra Club to retire a heavily polluting coal plant that was threatening the health of those living in an adjacent Moapa Paiute reservation. Senator Reid’s leadership has left an immeasurable impression on our nation’s climate and clean energy future.”

— Michael Brune, executive director, Sierra Club