Iowa’s largest newspaper is reporting that Christie Vilsack, the state’s former first lady, will not challenge Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley in 2010.

“I have decided not to run for the United States Senate in 2010,” Vilsack, a lawyer and educator, said in a statement e-mailed to the Des Moines Register. “I will continue my work with the Iowa Initiative to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy and will be active in our party and across the state in issues that affect the quality of life for all Iowans.”

Vilsack, who is married to ex-Iowa Gov. and current Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, said that she was “flattered and humbled by the requests from Democrats, Independents and even some Republicans to consider running.”