Alexander officially launches campaign for re-election

Alexander, who was first elected to the Senate in 2002, submitted his official paperwork in Nashville on Wednesday.

“I’m going to ask the people of Tennessee to send me back,” Alexander said.

Alexander, 67, previously served two terms as governor and is also a former U.S. education secretary and president of the University of Tennessee.

Alexander, who has no challengers in his party’s primary so far, said he expects to have nearly $3 million in his campaign account by the end of the month.

Former state Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke and former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett have announced bids for the Democratic nomination.

Nashville businessman Kenneth Eaton and Chris Lugo, who ran as a Green Party candidate against GOP Sen. Bob Corker in 2006, also plan to run.