DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Congressman Steve King says he will not run for the U.S. Senate, opening the race to lesser-known Republican aspirants in the race to succeed Democrat Tom Harkin. King, a six-term House member from western Iowa, says in a press statement issued Friday, “I will not be a candidate for the United States Senate in 2014.” King’s decision follows the same decision Thursday by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds last week and Congressman Tom Latham in February.

Republicans need six seats to gain control of the Senate. Harkin, elected in 1984, announced Jan. 26 that he would retire after five terms. Congressman Bruce Braley is the only Democrat to declare his candidacy. The Waterloo House member raised $1.1 million since declaring his candidacy in February.