State Rep. Dan Branch announced Wednesday that he will seek re-election rather than run for Texas attorney general.

"I'm grateful for the broad encouragement to run statewide," Branch, R-Dallas, wrote in a news release. "While the prospects for a successful run looked good, with only a month to go now until filing, the prospects of an open seat appears unlikely."

Branch, elected to the District 108 House seat in 2002, is one of the area's most powerful lawmakers. He is the chairman of the House's higher education committee and a member of the Legislative Budget Board, which tracks state spending. He's also co-chairman of the Dallas-area delegation to the Legislature.

He said he was eager to continue his work in the House.

Branch's hopes for statewide office were dashed, perhaps, by the indecision of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

She has delayed a decision on whether or when to resign from the Senate to focus solely on running for governor. Because the period for candidates to file to run for state and local offices begins in early December, Branch and others are opting to seek re-election to the current posts instead of mounting campaigns for higher office.

Branch would have run for attorney general if incumbent Greg Abbott left his post to run for lieutenant governor, an office incumbent David Dewhurst presumably would leave to run in a special election to replace Hutchison.

Former solicitor general Ted Cruz and Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright are also interested in running for the Republican nomination for attorney general.

Several Republican candidates had lined up to run for Branch's seat, including former County Judge Margaret Keliher, businesswoman Lisa Luby Ryan and businessman Bryan Pickens. None is expected to challenge Branch.

On the Democratic side, Dallas lawyer Peter Schulte is seeking the nomination for the seat.