New York, NY —

Jeanine Pirro, the high-profile district attorney from suburban Westchester County, will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for re-election next year. WNYC's Collin Campbell has more.

Jeanine Pirro's name has been at the top of the list of GOP politicians ripe for a run for higher officer. But the 53-year-old New York state native confirmed today that she will run for Senator, not governor as some had hoped.

Pirro won praise for her work with battered women, as well as a series Internet stings of would-be child molesters, and a battle against underage drinking. She was re-elected district attorney in 2001 while her husband, lawyer-lobbyist Albert Pirro, was in federal prison for tax fraud.

In a statement, Pirro said she decided to challenge Clinton because "New York deserves a senator who will give her all for a full term." There was no immediate comment from Clinton.