Jack Latvala: I'm Not Running for Bill Young's Seat

Ever since U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., announced his decision to forgo re-election in 2014, the talk of the town has been who's going to run to take his place.

But not even a day after Young made his announcement, the list is getting shorter. Earlier Thursday morning, Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, said he wasn't going to campaign for Young's seat. Now, Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, says he will not be going for the seat, either.

I appreciate the many people who have called and texted me urging me to run for Congress but I do not plan to do that, Latvala told Peter Schorsch of SaintPetersblog. I love the Florida Senate. I make an impact here and want to stay here. And besides, who wants to be in a job that is rated less favorably than a cockroach?

There's no word yet on who will be running for Young's seat. Young announced Wednesday that he planned on retiring in 2014.