DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa congressman who had been considered the establishment Republican choice for the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin says he won't seek the job.
Tom Latham said in a statement Wednesday he won't run for Harkin's Senate seat in 2014. The 10-term Republican from Clive says he could not "in good conscience launch a two-year statewide campaign that will detract from the commitment" to the new district he was elected to in November.
Attention now turns to U.S. Rep. Steve King of Kiron. King, a conservative from northwest Iowa, has said he's weighing a Senate bid. He wasn't expected to challenge Latham in a primary.
Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, a four-term House member from Waterloo, is the only announced Democrat for the seat.
