Former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford says she will not run for an open congressional seat.

Sanford told reporters Monday in Charleston that her job as a mother is more rewarding and important than going to Congress.

Sanford had said earlier she would look at running for the seat, which was left vacant when Gov. Nikki Haley appointed former congressman Tim Scott to an empty U.S. Senate seat. That Senate seat was left empty when Jim DeMint resigned.

Had she run, it likely would have set up a race between her and her ex-husband, former Gov. Mark Sanford. The former governor has not officially announced he is running, but he has campaign money and was looking for office space in Charleston last week.

Mark Sanford held the open 1st District seat before becoming governor in 2003.