AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A new name has been added to the list of candidates all competing to replace retiring U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson.

Former state Representative Paul Sadler has announced that he'll also be competing for the position in the U.S. Senate. So far, he's the only major candidate from the Democratic side to announce his candidacy. While he was in Amarillo last week, Sadler told Pronews 7 about areas he'd like to focus on like energy, education, economy and our budget.

"I started in the campaign late in comparison I mean," Sadler said. "But on the Democratic primary side it will be a contested race but I hopefully will come out okay and I'll be the Democratic nominee and we'll be able to square off against the Republican nominee."

Sadler served on the House Public Education Committee from 1995 through 2001.