(AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany says he won’t challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu in her re-election bid next year.

A spokesman for the Lafayette congressman confirmed Tuesday that Boustany won’t run for the Senate seat.

Spokesman Neal Patel says Boustany was encouraged to run against Landrieu in 2014, but he says Boustany remains dedicated to the residents of the 3rd Congressional District and to his continuing work on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Boustany would have to give up his U.S. House seat to run for the Senate, which would have risked bumping him from Congress entirely.

Other Republicans said to be eyeing a possible run against Landrieu are U.S. Reps. Bill Cassidy and John Fleming, state education board president Chas Roemer and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne.