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US Rep. Tom Latham won't seek re-election in 2014

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Rep. Tom Latham says he won't seek re-election in 2014.

The 10-term Iowa Republican will have spent 20 years in Congress and is Iowa's senior U.S. House member. His decision announced Tuesday creates an open seat that includes the Des Moines area, Iowa's most populous region.

The 65-year-old from Clive was heavily courted this year by Iowa Republicans and the national GOP to seek Iowa's open Senate seat in 2014, but he turned that down in February. Five-term Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin announced in January that he would retire.

Latham is a member of the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the transportation subcommittee. He's known for his friendship with House Speaker John Boehner and his love of golf.

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