Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, announced he would not run for the seat of retiring Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, leaving Republicans without a candidate.

"I believe my duty is to utilize the honor of serving Iowans in Congress by maximizing my effectiveness. I owe it to all Iowans and Americans to give you my best effort and best judgment," he said in a statement. "I cannot, in good conscience, turn my back on the destiny decisions of Congress today in order to direct all my efforts to a Senate race for next year, while hoping to gain the leverage to put the genie back in the bottle in 2015."

Speculation had been centered on King after fellow Republicans Rep. Tom Latham, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey also declined to try to replace the five-term Democrat.

Other Republicans have said they would consider the opportunity if King declined to run, including Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Red Oak, who previously told The Daily Iowan her interests was "piquing in the race."


Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, is the only candidate who has announced his intentions to run. Braley has raised more than $1 million and has been endorsed by Harkin.