Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., officially announced he is retiring today after serving four decades in Congress.

“I think that my district is ready for somebody new, to make a fresh start,” said Obey, former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Obey’s sudden announcement shocked Democrats throughout Wisconsin who are left wondering how to keep control of his long-held seat.  Six democrats are poised to vie for the seat, Obey told The Washington Post.

Republican Sean Duffy, Ashland Country District Attorney and former cast member of MTV’s “The Real World,” will also campaign for the position. Duffy has already won the endorsement of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

According to Party Time’s invitation database, Obey held a fundraiser on March 11 at the Democratic National Headquarters where hosts contributed $5,000 and supporters could contribute $1,000. Obey also attended fundraisers in March benefiting Rep. Steve Israel, D-NY, and Rep. Stephen Kagen, D-Wis.

Obey had raised more than $1.3 million for his campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Duffy had raised the second largest amount at more than $500,000.

The Cook Political Report calls the Wisconsin 7th Congressional District a Democratic “toss up”.

Though Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, banned earmarks to for-profit companies and House Republicans have sworn off all earmarks for one year, one thing hasn’t changed. Appropriators of both parties are still holding fundraisers in the lead up to tomorrow’s deadline for submitting earmark requests.

Obey held a fundraiser one day after he announced the move to ban earmarks to private companies. Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) were among many other lawmakers who also held fundraisers after the decision was made.

Other events came before Obey’s announcement. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) both held parties. Their invitations boast their positions on the Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful House committees responsible for keeping track of the governments’ expenditures.

On the other side of the aisle, Republican Appropriations Committee members like Rep. Kay Granger (TX) and Rep. C W Bill Young (FL) will also hold fundraisers in the coming weeks. Granger, who is throwing her 12^th annual three-day Fiesta Fundraiser, wrote an editorial for the Star-Telegram on March 17, stating that the moratorium is an “opportunity for House Republicans to lead with reform and re-establish a better process.”

A list of all fundraisers for Appropriations Committee members can be found here.