Capitol Calling

Ed Martin is switching elections.

The Republican attorney is out of the U.S. Senate race and instead will run in the reconfigured 2nd Congressional District seat. The seat’s current inhabitant - U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country - is expected to run for the U.S. Senate against U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

In addition to making a Web video, Martin changed his Web site to “Ed Martin for Congress.” The site features the sub-headline “Ed Martin v. Russ Carnahan, round 2,” an allusion to the fact that the Democratic congressman may run what is now Akin’s district. Carnahan defeated Martin last year by a relatively small margin.

“Elected officials like Russ Carnahan have been focused on growing their power and enriching themselves instead of remembering our families and safeguarding the American dream,” Martin said in a statement. “I am running for Congress because I know we can do better.  I want to fight for the American dream and for our future.”

Former Republican Party Chairwoman Ann Wagner is also exploring entering the race, as is Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield.

I asked Martin a couple of months ago about the effect of Akin entering the U.S. Senate race. This was his response:

Does that mean Martin would fear an Akin bid for U.S. Senate?

“If Todd Akin gets in, I think it makes it a really competitive race,” Martin said. “I don’t fear anybody. If you get up worrying about the other guy in the morning, you wouldn’t get up and do this. Because Claire McCaskill is well-funded, bright, experienced and knows how to fight a really hard-fought — some would call it mean — campaign.”

“This is not something you take lightly,” Martin added.