Nation in brief: House Republican wants Senate seat

Wilmington, Del. – Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Castle announced Tuesday he will run for the U.S. Senate seat Democrat Joe Biden left to become vice president.

Castle’s decision sets up a possible 2010 race against Biden’s son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, who is weighing a bid for the Democratic nomination but has not announced his political plans.

Castle, 70, is a two-term former governor, the lone Delaware member of the U.S. House and longest serving congressman in state history.

Governor meets gay rights group

Salt Lake City – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert met with a gay rights advocacy group Tuesday for the first time since saying he opposes providing legal protections for gay and transgender people.

Herbert took office in mid-August after Jon Huntsman resigned to become U.S. ambassador to China.

Within weeks of his inauguration, Herbert said he doesn’t think it should be illegal to discriminate against someone for being gay or transgender.

Leaders of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah said Herbert told them he’s open to having a dialogue about stopping discrimination.

“Fundamentally, he agrees that discrimination is a problem. We’re coming at this from how to solve a problem we agree on. That’s a great place to begin,” said Will Carlson, Equality Utah’s public policy director.