State Sen. Mike Noland (D-Elgin) formally announced on Sunday that he is entering the race in Illinois' 8th congressional district.
Noland, who had been exploring a run for Congress since the end of March, made his announcement during a picnic in Elk Grove Village. The NW Suburban Democrats and the 8th Congressional District Democrats put on the event.
The state senator is vying to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat who is running for Senate in 2016.
Noland will face declared candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi, president of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., in the 8th congressional district's Democratic primary.
State Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) was briefly a Democratic candidate in the 8th congressional district race before dropping out late last month. Cullerton said he wanted to focus his attention on state issues in Springfield.