By Rachel Lippmann
Jefferson City, Mo – Former state treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Steelman has announced she will not run for the U.S. Senate.
Steelman had seriously considered a run for the seat to be vacated when Kit Bond retires in January 2010. But she ultimately chose not to run because she wants to raise her children in Missouri.
Steelman and Kenny Hulshof faced off in an often brutal primary in 2008 to challenge Gov. Jay Nixon. Some within the Republican party blame Steelman for Hulshof's general election loss.
Representative Roy Blunt and state Senator Chuck Purgason have entered the Senate race on the Republican side. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is the only announced Democratic candidate.