ST. LOUIS—State Sen. Travis Fitzwater, a Republican who represents portions of St. Charles County in a district that extends to his home in Holts Summit in Mid-Missouri, announced Monday that he will not run to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.

Fitzwater won his State Senate seat in a competitive three-way primary in 2022 in a district that like the third congressional district, stretches from Mid-Missouri to the greater St. Louis area in St. Charles and Jefferson counties. 

“This decision doesn’t make sense to many when we have a free run at Congress in-between election cycles for us and the state senate being what it is,” Fitzwater shared in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

“Nonetheless, the right thing for us is to continue our service devoted to the constituents of the 10th District as their State Senator. I will not be running for Congress in 2024. Our efforts are best spent fighting for what’s right here at home.”

State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who, like Fitzwater, was elected to the Senate in 2022, confirmed Monday that she has $200,000 in campaign commitments for a congressional bid. Coleman spent part of the weekend meeting voters in the far western stretches of the congressional district in Cooper County. 

Coleman and Brandon Wilkinson, a truck driver who in 2022 garnered 16.5% of the primary vote against Luetkemeyer, are so far the only two announced candidates.

Filing for the August primary opens Feb. 27.

A decision by former State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, currently a candidate for lieutenant governor, could impact the rest of the potential field.

Onder, who lost a congressional primary to Luetkemeyer in 2008, told Spectrum News Monday that he's "Definitely strongly considering" the race, and would have a decision or an announcement in the next week or two.

State Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance told Spectrum News earlier this month that if Onder didn't run, he would, and didn't eliminate the prospect that he might anyway, despite considering Onder a mentor.

Schroer could not be reached for comment Monday.

Democrat Bethany Mann is the only declared candidate in the race.