Northey says he won't pursue U.S. Senate seat

Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, he said Thursday morning.

“After talking with my family and thoughtful consideration,” Northey said he decided to forgo the open-seat Senate race and continue in his current role.

“I feel at this time I can be more effective serving Iowans as Secretary of Agriculture rather than engaging in a Senate campaign,” Northey said in a statement Thursday.

First District Rep. Bruce Braley is unopposed for the Democratic nomination and has been endorsed by Sen. Tom Harkin, who announced his retirement in January.

Like other potential GOP candidates, Northey had put his decision on hold awaiting U.S. Rep. Steve King's decision on running. Wednesday, King said he didn't know when he will make a decision.

Northey is the third high-profile Republican to decide against running. Third district Rep. Tom Latham bowed out early, and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said last week that she was not seeking the nomination.

When Reynolds made her decision, Northey spoke optimistically of Republicans' chances in the 2014 race.

“I really believe that the Republican candidate has a really good shot of beating Braley,” he said. When I look at the way he's voted, the issues and the way they potentially break, you know health care and a lot of issues, over the next year-and-a-half, I think there is a lot of room to elect a Republican candidate.”

Northey didn't endorse anyone for the nomination, but in his announcement spoke highly of King.

“King has been a strong conservative leader in Washington and would serve our state well in the Senate,” he said. “Should he decide to run, he would have my full support.”

And if King doesn't run, Northey said, Iowa “is fortunate to have many qualified and exciting candidates.”

Among the potential GOP candidates are 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 and former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker.

If King doesn't run, GOP Chairman A.J. Spiker believes there will be a primary.

“If King runs, that's less likely,” he said. “If he doesn't, there will be a big primary field. I just don't know how big.”