Missouri attorney Ed Martin (R) announced Monday that he is abandoning his Senate campaign in order to run for Congress in the state’s newly redrawn 2nd district.

Martin’s move leaves state Treasurer Sarah Steelman as the only declared Republican in the race against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D). It is also further proof of Rep. Todd Akin’s widely expected Senate bid, which he will announce later this month.

The Republican lawmaker represents the 2nd district, which had portions of Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan’s 3rd district added to it during redistricting. Martin lost to Carnahan in the St. Louis-based 3rd district in 2010. But with Carnahan’s district essentially elminated through redistricting, the Congressman’s top option now appears to be to run in the redrawn 2nd district.

Carnahan was the only name Martin mentioned in his announcement Monday.

“Elected officials like Russ Carnahan have been focused on growing their power and enriching themselves instead of remembering our families and safeguarding the American dream,” Marin said in a statement posted to his website. “I am running for Congress because I know we can do better. I want to fight for the American dream and for our future.”

Other potential Republican contenders in the 2nd district are former Ambassador Ann Wagner, who said last month that she was exploring a run for Congress, and state Sen. Jane Cunningham.

Watch Martin’s announcement video: