ST. LOUIS (AP) - U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will not seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2012.
The Cape Girardeau lawmaker announced her intentions on Tuesday, saying she can best serve Missouri and her district in the House.
Two other Republicans have already announced plans to seek the seat currently held by Democrat Claire McCaskill. They are former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman and Ed Martin, a former chief of staff to Gov. Matt Blunt who narrowly fell short of unseating Congressman Russ Carnahan of St. Louis in November.
Emerson was elected to an eighth term in November. She is the second member of Missouri's congressional delegation to decide against a Senate bid. Republican Sam Graves of northwest Missouri announced earlier this month that he would remain in the House.