AUSTIN (AP) - Former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams is dropping out of a run for U.S. Senate to campaign for a seat in the House of Representatives instead.

Williams, a Republican, announced Tuesday he will no longer seek to replace outgoing Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and will run for an Arlington-area House seat.

The district is one of four new districts that Texas will get in 2012 because of the state’s population growth over the last 10 years. The district includes parts of Tarrant, Wise and Parker counties.

Williams is the first African American to hold an executive, elected statewide post in Texas. He has vowed to cut the size of government and minimize regulations.

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