HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A Republican Connecticut lawmaker is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

Bethel State Representative Dan Carter made the announcement on the steps of the Connecticut capitol today, where he was joined by leaders of the state Republican Party.

The only other person to declare their candidacy for the GOP nomination in the race is August Wolf, a businessman and former Olympic athlete from Stamford.

Carter is an Air Force veteran who has spent six years in the state legislature.

Blumenthal was elected to the Senate in 2010 and is the state's former attorney general. He hasn't officially announced his 2016 campaign but has been raising money.

Carter says Blumenthal has accomplished little in his first term and didn't do enough to help the economy.