Republican Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts special election bodes so poorly for Democrats in November that party insiders fear a growing number of House incumbents will retire rather than face difficult and possibly losing battles for re-election.

Rep. Marion Berry (Ark.) became the latest Democrat in the House to announce his retirement, saying on Jan. 25 that he would not seek an eighth term.

He joined Reps. Vic Snyder (Ark.), Bart Gordon (Tenn.), Brian Baird (Wash.), John Tanner (Tenn.), and Dennis Moore (Kan.) as Democrats who have said they won’t run for re-election in November, according to the CQ Politics Web site.

Departures are “not out of control yet,” according to Rep. Dennis Cardoza of California, a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition.

But other party stalwarts “are worried about a snowball effect,” Roll Call reported.

One party strategist told the newspaper, “Retirements drive retirements.”

Washington insiders identify several House Democrats as possible candidates for retirement, according to Roll Call. They include Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Rick Boucher (Va.), Lincoln Davis (Tenn.), Bob Etheridge (N.C.), Ike Skelton (Mo.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Paul Kanjorski (Pa.), and John Spratt (S.C.).

“All sit in districts that would be difficult for Democrats to defend if they become vacant — and if they run again, some of the incumbents may have to sweat re-election for the first time in a long time,” Roll Call observed.

Still, a Republican takeover of the House appears to be an uphill battle. Democrats would have to lose 40 seats for the GOP to take control.

And Democratic pollster David Beattie noted that a number of Republicans in the House have also decided to retire, and voters appear angry at both parties.

“It’s not a good year to be a Democrat,” he said. “But people don’t like the Republicans, either.”