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Land Files Paperwork To Enter Republican U.S. Senate Primary

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land says she's filed the paperwork to enter the Republican U.S. Senate primary, while Democratic U.S. Congressman Gary Peters says he's got $1.8 million dollars on hand for his race.

Land and Peters are seeking to replace veteran Democratic U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, who says he won't seek re-election in 2014.

Saying it was "an extremely difficult decision" in March, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., announced he will not seek re-election in 2014.

Levin, 78, one of the most long-standing and respected figures in Washington who serves as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, explained his decision this way:

"As Barbara and I struggled with the question of whether I should run again, we focused on our belief that our country is at a crossroads that will determine our economic health and security for decades to come. We decided that I can best serve my state and nation by concentrating in the next two years on the challenging issues before us that I am in a position to help address; in other words, by doing my job without the distraction of campaigning for re-election," he wrote in an open letter to constituents.

He said he felt his time would be better served by focusing on revealing tax avoidance schemes, and fixing "egregious" tax loopholes.

 (TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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