Vitter says he won't run for Senate re-election

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Republican David Vitter says he won't run for re-election to the U.S. senate in 2016 after losing the Louisiana governor race.

Vitter, defeated for governor by John Bel Edwards in Saturday's general election, had been the prohibitive front-runner in the race to succeed Gov. Bobby Jindal.

His decision not to run opens the door for two men reportedly considering a Senate campaign: Treasurer John Kennedy and U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, whose 3rd Congressional District covers St. Mary Parish. Boustany, serving his sixth two-year House term, is a member of the powerful Ways & Means Committee. He recently was named to the chairmanship of a tax policy subcommittee.