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Philly Dem mulls run against Toomey

A Philly state senator is mulling a run for U.S. Senate against the Republican incumbent, Pat Toomey.

WASHINGTON – A Philly state senator is mulling a run for U.S. Senate against the Republican incumbent, Pat Toomey.

Democrat Vincent Hughes, a member of the state legislature since 1987, told Philadelphia Weekly that a run has "been on my mind; it's something we think about every once in a while." He later added, "We made a decision to hold onto that domain name in contemplation of that move—should we decide to make it."

Hughes has registered domain names such as "Hughes4USSenate2016.com," "HughesforSenate2016.com" and "HughesforUSSenate2016.com," the web site PoliticsPA previously reported.

A Hughes run could jolt a Democratic field that so far includes former Congressman Joe Sestak and no one else in a race expected to be one of the hardest fought of 2016.

Democrats see Toomey as a prime target in their plan to take back the Senate, and while many in the party believe Sestak would be a strong candidate, others want an alternative to the man who narrowly lost to Toomey in 2010.

Hughes hinted at how he would run, telling Philadelphia Weekly that Democrats should espouse "a very progressive agenda" in challenging Toomey and he called for a statewide voice "from the Elizabeth Warren wing of the Democratic Party."

Another former congressman, Chris Carney, has also said he is considering running for the Democratic nomination. Sestak, though, is the only one to so far launch a full-fledged effort, raising money and telling people privately that he is running.

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