Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) will unveil his reelection plans Monday, a spokesperson for the senator confirmed Sunday.
Should he retire, Carper, 76, would set the stage for a likely contentious primary battle for his Senate seat, which stems from a generally Democratic stronghold state. Carper has served in the Senate since 2001, having previously been state treasurer, governor, and congressman.
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If he does bow out of consideration, prominent Democrats in the First State, such as Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) could be eyeing the post. Rochester would become the third black woman in the upper chamber if she won the seat.
Should Carper announce his intent to run again, he will enter the contest as the favorite. He also already served four terms in the Senate.
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Carper's colleague Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), 79, set off a crowded primary in Maryland after he announced his retirement earlier this month. That interparty melee comes in tandem with the battle in California to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), which could become one of the most expensive races of the cycle.
Ahead of the 2024 Senate showdown, Democrats are staring down a map in which they will have to defend 23 seats, including three held by Democratic-aligned independent senators. Republicans only need to defend 11.