By Alexis Levinson

Posted January 8, 2015 at 5:00am

Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., does not plan to run for Senate, he told CQ Roll Call Wednesday.

“Nope. My wife’s pretty clear on that,” he said just outside the House chamber, when asked if he was still thinking about running for Senate. In November, Huelskamp told CQ Roll Call he was open to the possibility of challenging Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. Now that he’s eschewed that statewide bid, the three-term Republican might have to navigate his own primary in 2016.

Several Republicans are considering mounting a challenge to Huelskamp in the 1st District, which covers the expansive swath of rural farmland comprising western Kansas. The congressman was kicked off the Agriculture Committee in 2012 after disagreements with House leadership, creating some tensions between Huelskamp and some agricultural interests key to the district.