(CNN) - Republican Rep. Allen West of Florida will run for re-election to the House in 2012, closing the door on a Senate bid, the tea party favorite announced in a statement Monday.
West said he considered launching a primary bid for the Republican Senate nomination to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in the next election, but ultimately decided he would be most effective as a member of the House.
"For the last two weeks, I have traveled the Congressional District and spoken clearly to the citizens what while we have made progress these last seven months, there is still so much to accomplish for our country," West said in a statement. "I believe the place where I can best effect the needed change is from the People's House – the House of Representatives."
The freshman representative won a tough election in 2010 with the backing of members of the tea party movement, becoming a national voice for the movement.
Former Sen. George LeMieux, former state Majority Leader Adam Hasner, businessman Craig Miller and retired Colonel Mike McCalister are among the candidates competing for the GOP Senate nomination in Florida.
- CNN Senior Producer Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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I hate to call him Uncle Tom, because he's more like Simon Legree. Little Eva is crys a little everytime West opens his mouth.
Too bad. Would love for him to represent Florida as Senator.
Regardless, Obama is gone and the Dems will lose more seats in the Senate as well.
2012 can not come soon enough. It is like 1978 all over again when the idiot left was thinking Carter did a good job and had a clue on foreign policy.
Carter part 2 is about to end!
"I believe the place where I can best effect the needed change is from the People's House – the House of Representatives."
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The people will be better served if this masagonistic pig is not re-elected. West is part of the Motisa tribe. Mo – Tea- Sir?
Quick Vote: Should Obama be allowed to go into exile?
what a dolt
I don't think that he could win state wide. That is the greater issue. Did you really wants someone as disrespectful as West in the Senate? That is a minor issue for the Senate race. It would be nice to have more civility in the country.
We do need to clear out about 5 democrats in the senate. Unfortunately, the biggest numbsculls won't be coming up for reelection for a while: Reid, Boxer, Rangel...
That's because he knows he has no chance of winning a state-wide election.
Good decision, West wouldn't win and Republicans want to shut him down, he's an embarrassment.
He saw the hand writing on the wall. He will probually have a hard time getting re-elected to the House. Any challenger will have a treasure troves of gaffs and stupid things he have said and we must not forget him signing on to the Ryan debacle. This guy is a disgrace to all veterans!
Great – he is not a leader and a do-nothing. Hopefully the poor people he "represents" in Florida will make sure is no longer a member of Congress either come 2012. The less Republicans extremists in Congress the more common sense real solutions we can get accomplished for American's economy and jobs situation. NO MORE REPUBLICANS in 2012!
Translation:
"I smelled the coffee and know I'll be lucky to hold onto my own district, let alone win in the entire state."
West will be another one-termer GOP congressman. Time to clean house folks.
Good thinking Allen
In reality it would be a miracle if you were reelcted after your miserable performance the first year
Let's hope the good folks in West Palm realize their mistake
Yes, you will be most effective in the House preparing your exit strategy: another GOP member with support crumbling like a sandcastle in a high tide.
One and done.
He would be most effective out of government altogether. Just think, he could sell books, make hate speeches, and increase his income like crazy - surprised that Bachmann hasn't already thought of it. Pays a lot more than the presidency, and they CAN'T be total dictators (as they want), so they should just quit altogether.
P.S. President Obama has these Republicans on the run as if they were Gadhafi. LOL
There has got to be a Democrat out there to run against this guy. He is a manufactured politician. He takes his cues from
a Karl Rove playbook. He has no original ideas about how to get votes so he does what has been tried and tested without concern for the working or middle class.
Who is going to attack without provocation now? He can become buddies with that other ill mannered teabagger from SC, wilson/
West might have a better chance at destroying America if he is in the senate.
Boy, I sure wish he would have run for senate. This guy is a true nutcase. Talk about engaging mouth before putting brain in gear. His politics are lousy but he sure makes for good comedy. He is another one term tea partier who we won't remember in 5 years.
All these black republicans are a joke. The republicans hate and dispise them and get caught saying so all the time. They are truly throwbacks to the slave days and are nothing more that "good house slaves" that think they are above the "field hands".
More effective staying in Congress? Is he kidding? West is a just say NO to everything Tea Party hobbit.
Hopefully, the good people of Boca Raton will kick this guy to the curb next election. Republicans – the enemy of the people!
His brother should run , he has compassion and humility .
Republican Rep. Allen West of Florida has a chump complex , his temper and rhetoric has no place in politics .