(AP) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter won’t face a Republican primary challenge from Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, who ended months of speculation Tuesday by announcing that he won’t enter the fall Senate race. ‘After much consideration, I have decided not to seek the U.S. Senate seat this year,’ Dardenne said in a short statement. ‘My family and I thank the many Louisianians who have encouraged me to run, but I believe my role is to serve the people here in Baton’ Rouge rather than in Washington.’ Dardenne’s announcement leaves Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon as Vitter’s main challenger for the seat. Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal also said he doesn’t intend to seek the Senate post. The party primary for the Senate race is Aug. 28, and the general election is Nov. 2. The 55-year-old Dardenne, a former state senator, had fueled chatter in recent months that he might provide a high-profile GOP fight for Vitter, saying that people were asking him to consider a run for the seat and that he hadn’t ruled it out. —- Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at [email protected]