The Diaz-Balarts: one moves out, one moves over (Updated)

Politico reports that Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart will announce this afternoon that he will not seek re-election this year.

More interesting, CongressDaily reports that his brother Mario, the incumbent Congressman in a neighboring Miami district, will leave his district and seek re-election in Lincoln’s district.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart won his 2008 race in District 21 by a 58-42 percent margin over former Hialeah mayor Raul Martinez, while Mario Diaz-Balart won a 53-47 percent victory over former Miami-Dade Democratic Party chair Joe Garcia in District 25.

Senator McCain carried both districts in 2008; the margins were 51-49 in District 21 and 50-49 in District 25.

Update: The Sun-Sentinel has the full statements of both Congressmen, confirming that Mario will run in Lincoln’s district. It’s too early to handicap a District 25 race between, say, Joe Garcia and state legislator David Rivera, but the resignation/switcheroo creates an open seat in a district slightly less favorable to Republicans.