Rep. Vern Buchanan (R) announced this week that he will run for re-election next year and not seek statewide office, in the wake of Gov. Charlie Crist’s (R) entrance into the Senate race.

Buchanan had been weighing a Senate run, and party insiders said he was also looking at possibly throwing his hat into the open-seat gubernatorial race if Crist decided to vacate the seat. But immediately after Crist’s long-awaited announcement, Buchanan said he was staying put, taking a competitive open-seat race off the table.

“Representing Florida’s 13th district in the U.S. House is an honor and a privilege,— Buchanan said. “I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving the people.—