State Rep. Marty Seifert — who's seeking the Republican nomination for governor — says he won't run for an eighth term in the House next year even if he doesn't get that party endorsement.

Two DFL candidates in the wide-open race to replace Gov. Tim Pawlenty also have said they won't seek reelection to their current offices: House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner.

Seifert held a news conference Thursday, said the Marshall Independent:

While Seifert said he was confident and hopeful in his chances to win the election for governor, if he lost, he said would not return to the House.

"We've talked about this for maybe a year," Seifert said of he and his family, including his wife Traci who was at Thursday's news conference.

Seifert said he made his decision "before Governor Tim Pawlenty announced he was not running for re-election."

He is interested in the governor's office but not in any U.S. House or Senate seat, Seifert said.

District 21A officials will now form a search committee to find candidates who may replace Seifert in the House.