Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) will seek re-election to his 1st district seat rather than make a gubernatorial run in 2010, a decision that no doubt elicited a sigh of relief from House Democrats.

Stupak was considering the gubernatorial race after the Democratic frontrunner, Lt. Gov. John Cherry, dropped out earlier this month. But he released a statement Tuesday, saying “I can best serve the people of Michigan in the U.S. Congress.—

“My seniority and experience in Congress, where I sit on the Energy and Commerce Committee and serve as chairman of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, afford me a significant opportunity to affect positive change,— he said.

A vacancy in the swing district would have set off another competitive race, putting Democrats on the defensive. Stupak’s decision to stay should keep this seat comfortably in the Democrats’ column.