Latham says decision on Senate run won't be affected by Steve King

Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) said his decision to run or not for the Senate won't be affected by what fellow Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) does.

"I've got to make my own decision. That's what it's all about," Latham said, according to CNN. "It's way early."

The longtime congressman has been mulling a bid for retiring Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-Iowa) seat, as has King, whom some Republicans are worried is too conservative to win statewide.

Latham said he'd seen King over the weekend at an Iowa State University basketball game, and while they hadn't had an "in-depth conversation" about the Senate race, they would talk about it.

The congressman wouldn't criticize King when pressed about other Republicans' concerns, calling him a "a very viable member of Congress."

But he said King's decision on whether to run wouldn't dictate what he would do.

"And no – I'm just going to worry about what I'm doing to do. That's all I can control," said Latham.

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