Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. will not pursue Chicago’s open mayoral seat in 2011, the Associated Press reported Monday.

The Illinois Democrat announced his decision in a statement Monday, saying he wants to continue his work in Congress. He is expected to win re-election next week.

Mayor Richard Daley decided not to run for re-election in 2011 after holding the post for 21 years. Jackson was one of many prominent Democrats considered likely to pursue the opening. Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama’s former chief of staff, has declared he will run, and Jackson’s wife, Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson, has shown interest.

Rep. Jackson has been in the spotlight over his links to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), who is the defendant in a corruption case, and an affair he had two years ago. Sandi Jackson opened up to the Chicago Sun-Times last month about the affair, saying the couple had worked through the infidelity through spiritual and marital counseling.