GOP state Sen. Jack Whitver announced on Thursday that he will not seek the seat being vacated by longtime Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported.

Whitver was one of a host of Republicans reportedly looking to replace Latham in the Hawkeye State’s 3rd District.

Latham’s surprise retirement last month created a competitive, open-seat contest in the 2014 midterms. President Barack Obama carried the district by a 4-point margin in 2012, making Latham one of 17 Republicans representing a district Obama carried last cycle.

state Sen. Brad Zaun

On the Democratic side, former state Sen. Staci Appel and Gabriel de la Cerda are currently waging bids. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee touts Appel as a top recruit.

Iowa’s 3rd District is rated a Pure Tossup by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.