Missouri Rep. Ann Wagner speaks to supporters at her campaign office on Nov. 7, 2016. Wagner announced this week that she will not challenge Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2018. | AP Photo Wagner won't challenge McCaskill for Senate in Missouri

Republican Rep. Ann Wagner has decided not to challenge Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2018, instead opting to stay in the House.

Wagner had long been expected to run against McCaskill, the two-term incumbent, but said she wanted to focus on her family and her home district.


"Those who know me well know I put my family and my community first," Wagner said in her statement, which was first reported by the Washington Examiner. "While I am grateful for the incredible support and encouragement I have received from across Missouri to run for United States Senate, I am announcing today my intention to run for re-election to the United States House of Representatives in 2018. The 2nd District is my home. It's where I grew up, went to school, have worked and volunteered, raised my kids, and attend church every week — there is no greater honor than representing a place and people that I love."

Wagner, a prolific fundraiser, had been U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg under President George W. Bush, and was also a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee and chair of the Missouri GOP. She’s served in Congress since 2012 and already had $2.7 million in her federal campaign account.

But now, Republicans will turn their attention to other potential McCaskill challengers, including state Attorney General Josh Hawley and Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer and Vicky Hartzler.

Hawley, in particular, had emerged as a potential primary challenger to Wagner before the congresswoman decided not to run for Senate.

Major donors and power brokers in the state, including former Sen. John Danforth and former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Sam Fox, have circulated letters urging Hawley to enter the race. Fox’s letter asked donors to hold off on donating to other potential McCaskill challengers, including Wagner.

Hawley will likely become the new top recruiting target for national Republicans. But it’s unclear if Hawley, who was first elected attorney general last year, would want to leap from that post so soon.

Wagner is the latest of several Republican House members from states President Donald Trump carried last year who have nevertheless opted against challenging Democratic senators in 2018. Former Rep. Ryan Zinke had been courted to challenge Montana Sen. Jon Tester, but opted to become Interior Secretary instead. Rep. Sean Duffy decided not to run in Wisconsin. And Rep. Pat Tiberi passed on challenging Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio, while Rep. Pat Meehan said no to a bid against Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.

In West Virginia, though, Republican Rep. Evan Jenkins has jumped into the race against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.

McCaskill is considered to be among the Democratic Party's most vulnerable senators in 2018. Trump carried Missouri by more than 18 points in 2016, and McCaskill has been a top GOP target for years. In 2012, she won reelection after Republican nominee Todd Akin sparked widespread backlash by claiming that "legitimate rape" rarely resulted in victims becoming pregnant.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee celebrated Wagner’s decision not to run against McCaskill.

“In Missouri, it’s clear Congresswoman Wagner reached the conclusion voters already know: nobody can out-work Senator McCaskill and no one else would be a more effective champion for the state’s working families,” spokesman David Bergstein said. “The spotlight will now shift to other potential candidates who have been hiding from the reckless Republican agenda, but for these potential candidates there will be no escape from the GOP’s proposals that will hurt Missouri’s middle class.”