Good bye homophobe

Florida Republican Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart will call it quits today, retiring after nine terms representing a heavily Cuban-American district in the Miami area, according to a source briefed on the decision.

Diaz-Balart, whose younger brother, Mario, also holds a congressional seat in Florida, is the 18th Republican to retire this cycle and the second in two days. [...]

The seat -- thanks to the Republican lean of most Cuban Americans -- favors the GOP. [...]

[ Miami-Dade County Democratic Chairman Joe] Garcia is reportedly interested in running again and would give Democrats a genuine pickup opportunity in the 25th if he did decide to make the contest. One complicating factor for Garcia is that he is currently working in an appointed post in the Obama Administration. [...]

There are now 31 total retirements in the House -- 18 on the Republican side and 13 for Democrats.