By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, Joe Maxwell says he will not challenge Senator Kit Bond in next year's election.
Instead, the Democrat says he'll run for Lt. Gov. again. The party had been trying to recruit Maxwell to challenge Bond.
Bond hasn't announced a reelection bid but is expected to seek a fourth term. He is also a former Governor of Missouri.
Maxwell had said that he was seriously considering taking on Bond, who has declined to comment on a potential challenge.
But now Maxwell says in a letter to supporters that he'll seek re-election to the lieutenant governor's office. He has said his ultimate goal is to run for governor.
Other names being considered to run for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2004 are Ken Jacobs, who is the top Democrat in the state Senate, and St. Louis attorney Charles Berry.