Wamp to leave House if he loses state race

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Zack Wamp said Tuesday he will not seek re-election to Congress if he loses his 2010 bid for Tennessee governor.

The Republican was sworn into his eighth term in office Jan. 5, the (Nashville) Tennessean reported.

"That made last week sort of a melancholy week for me, because I knew it was the last term that I was being sworn in to. This is a new challenge and one that I really believe I'm supposed to step up for," he said.

Wamp is one of three Republicans who have made early announcements about running for governor following former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's announcement this month that he will not run, the newspaper said.

Also seeking the governor's office are Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam.

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is barred by term limits from seeking re-election.