Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey. (file photo)
Cross another name off the list of potential Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate.
State Ag Secretary Bill Northey issued a written statement this morning, announcing he has decided not to seek the Republican nomination for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat. Northey wrote that he feels he can “be more effective serving Iowans as Secretary of Agriculture rather than engaging in a Senate campaign.”
Last week, during an interview with Radio Iowa, Northey indicated his analysis of the political landscape in Iowa suggested to him he had a shot at the senate seat, but personal considerations were a concern. Northey said his family’s been farming the same ground near Spirit Lake since the 1930s and it would be hard for him to turn the operation over to someone else.
In his written statement today, Northey indicated he would endorse Congressman Steve King — if King decides to run. If King doesn’t, Northey said there are “many qualified and exciting” Republican candidates considering a run.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds announced last week that she had decided against running for the Senate. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin announced in late January that he would not seek reelection in 2014. Bruce Braley, the Democratic congressman from Waterloo, launched his race for the Senate in early February.