UPDATE: Roy Blunt announces Senate run for 2010

ST. LOUIS — Republican U.S. Rep. Roy Bluntannounced he is running for Senate in 2010.

Blunt announced his candidacy Thursday in St. Louis, the first of a series of stops across Missouri that will include Jefferson City, Carthage and Cape Girardeau.

Republican Sen. Kit Bond announced in January that he would not seek election to a fifth term. So far, Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is the only other candidate to enter the race.

The 59-year-old Blunt has represented southwest Missouri in the House since 1997 and recently stepped aside as the House minority whip.

The Senate race could become a showdown between two of Missouri's most prominent political families.