HARRISBURG -- State Sen. Jane Orie has decided she won't run for the U.S. Senate next year.

She issued a brief statement today saying, "I am formally announcing that I will not be a candidate in the 2010 Senate race."

Last week she said she might run against the two declared Republican candidates, former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey of the Lehigh Valley and conservative activist Peg Luksik of Johnstown. The seat at issue is now held by Sen. Arlen Specter, who switched from Republican to Democrat earlier this year.

Ms. Orie, of McCandless, said she is too busy trying to get a new state budget adopted to take on a Senate race.

"Pennsylvania is facing a dire budget situation," she said. As Senate GOP whip, she is, for the first time, involved in the budget talks with Gov. Ed Rendell.

While she is "honored and humbled" by those who urged her to run, she said, "I must put personal ambitions aside and focus on the crucial task at hand."