By AP
GRAND RAPIDS, MI –
Former juvenile court judge Randy Hekman says he'll challenge two-term U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow next year.
The 63-year-old Republican from Grand Rapids says he's "the person who can help bring healing to our hurting nation."
Hekman plans to hold press conferences in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids on Monday to officially announce his candidacy.
Former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra and former state GOP chairman Saul Anuzis also are considering the Senate race, as are former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, businessman Tim Leuliette and libertarian activist Scotty Boman.
Stabenow is the Democratic chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The 60-year-old from Lansing first was elected in 2000.
She easily won re-election in 2006, but could face a tougher challenge in 2012, when President Barack Obama is up for re-election.