Participate 2012: Martin Bows Out of Congressional Race

Two days after a Webster Groves doctor made the 2nd Congressional district Republican primary a three candidate race, the contest is back down to two in the running. Thursday morning, St. Louis attorney Ed Martin announced he would drop out of the GOP primary for Congress and instead challenge Chris Koster to become the state's top lawyer.

Feeding off of his near-victory against Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-St. Louis) in 2010, Martin had support in his bid to succeed Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), but has lagged considerably in fundraising compared to former RNC Co-Chair Ann Wagner, who has also lined up endorsements from national Republican figures, including John Ashcroft, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, who will be in the area next week at a "grassroots rally."

A Martin statement issued Thursday made no mention of the congressional bid and instead focused on Koster, a former Republican State Senator who switched parties prior to his bid for Attorney General in 2008. Martin attacked Koster over his handling of state-mounted bids to oppose President Obama's healthcare reform.

A statement from the Missouri Democratic Party chided Martin's switch to another contest after considering bids in other congressional districts, the U.S. Senate and the governor's race.

Randy Jotte, the Webster Groves emergency room physician who joined the GOP primary for the 2nd Congressional district this week, said in a statement that Martin's exit from the congressional race provides voters with a clear choice.

"I would like to congratulate Mr. Martin on his decision and wish him
well,” Jotte said in the statement. 

He added, “We look forward to an exchange of ideas with Ann Wagner as we progress forward. She is a fine person, but we have different ideas
and different backgrounds.”

Webster Groves Patch Editor Sheri Gassaway contributed information to this article.