One of the Republican candidates for the United States Senate has dropped out of that race to run for Congress. Ed Martin is going to run in the new second district that is now represented by Congressman Todd Akin.
Akin has not announced his plans for 2012 although some Republicans believe he will move to the Senate race.
Martin was a former top aide to Governor Matt Blunt. He lost a hotly contested race last year to incumbent Russ Carnahan, who is considering his own options now that the new congressional district map eliminates his district.