After a week of mulling it over, State Representative Gerald Watkins of Paducah says he will not vie for Ed Whitfield’s 1st District congressional seat.
Whitfield announced in September he wouldn’t seek a 12th term.
The Democrat Watkins, who represents Kentucky’s 3rd District, says he’d be more effective in the state house.
As it stands, the race includes solely Republican candidates - Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer along with Hickman County Attorney Jason Batts and Whitfield’s former field rep Michael Pape, who earned the congressman's endorsement last week.
No Democrats have yet filed to run. However, state lawmakers John Tilley of Hopkinsville and Dorsey Ridley of Henderson have expressed their interest.
