Landrieu joins calls for Shinseki’s head

A growing list of Democrats, many who face tough reelection contests this fall, are calling for Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to step down. The drumbeat from vulnerable members especially intensified after a VA inspector general confirmed there were 1,700 veterans at a Phoenix clinic that were not on official wait lists.  

{mosads}The calls began piling up on Wednesday, after the release of an interim IG report was released that also “confirmed that inappropriate scheduling practices are systemic throughout” the VA. 

Several lawmakers had previously called on Shinseki to resign, but Democratic senators for the first time on Wednesday joined what have been mostly Republican calls for Shinseki’s head.  

Democratic House members calling for Shinseki to resign (21)

Rep. Ron Barber (Ariz): faces tough re-match from Air Force veteran Martha McSally (R)

Rep. John Barrow (Ga.): a perennial GOP target, Barrow represents a heavily Republican district

Rep. Bruce Braley (Iowa): running for Senate 

Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.)

Rep. Ann Kuster (N.H.)

Rep. Joe Garcia (Fla.)

Rep. Dave Loebsack (Iowa)

Rep. Dan Maffei (N.Y.)

Rep. Jerry McNerney (Calif.)

Rep. Rick Nolan (Minn.)

Rep. Scott Peters (Calif.): a top GOP target who faces challenge from former San Diego councilman Carl DeMaio (R)

Rep. Gary Peters (Mich.)

Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.)

Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.): sits in a heavily Republican district, faces tough challenge from state Sen. Evan Jenkins (R)

Rep. Raul Ruiz (Calif.)

Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio)

Rep. David Scott (Ga.)

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.)

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.)

Rep. Tim Walz (Minn.).  

Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (N.M.)

Democratic senators calling for Shinseki to resign (11)

Sen. Al Franken (Minn.)— Republicans hope to make his race competitive after Franken only narrowly won in 2008.

Sen. Kay Hagan (N.C.) — The red-state Democrat is one of the most vulnerable in the country, facing a challenge from state Speaker Thom Tillis (R).

Sen. Martin Heinrich (N.M.) — Heinrich is the first Democratic senator not up for reelection in 2014 to call for Shinseki’s resignation.

Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.)

Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) — Landrieu is facing a tough reelection race this fall.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.) — Merkley’s 2014 GOP opponent had been pressuring him to join calls for Shinseki to quit.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.)— She is facing a tough contest with former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R).

Sen. Mark Udall (Colo.)— Udall is running in a competitive race with Rep. Cory Gardner (R).

Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.) 

Sen. John Walsh (Mont.) — The appointed senator is seeking a full term but is the underdog against likely GOP nominee, Rep. Steve Daines (R).

Sen. Mark Warner (Va.) — Warner is up for reelection this year and faces a tough challenger in former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie.

Some Democratic candidates running for Congress this fall have also called for him to step aside. 

—This post was last updated at 7:24 p.m.