GOP Primary Favorite Says He Won't Run for Iowa U.S. Senate Seat

Steve King, R-Kiron, who said on Wednesday that he was embarrassed he hadn't made a decision on whether to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin, apparently made up his mind.

King tweeted late Friday that he'd rather concentrate on battles in the House of Representatives than campaign.

“I will not run for Senate in 2014. A Senate race takes me out of urgent battles in Congress that can't wait until 2015. Many thanks to all.” - @SteveKingIA

King joins other Republicans like Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, Rep. Tom Latham and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds who have also said they would not run for the seat, according to the Washington Post.

Early polls showed King, a far right conservative and a Tea Party favorite, as the favorite in Republican primaries, but had him losing to Braley in a general election.

The Gazette and Des Moines Register have pointed to a similar list of possible contenders on the GOP front: Sen. Joni Ernst of Red Oak, Secretary of State Matt Schultz, Sen. Chuck Grassley’s chief of staff, David Young, former Reliant Energy CEO Mark Jacobs, former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker, Rod Roberts, a former state legislator who now oversees the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.

See More on Patch:

• Steve King 'Embarrassed' About US Senate Indecision
• Congressman Steve King at Wallaby's Wednesday