JACKSON (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows told The Associated Press on Saturday that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Trent Lott.

Shows, a Democrat who was ousted from Congress by Republican Rep. Chip Pickering in 2002 after Mississippi lost a House seat, joins former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker in the race.

Shows said Pickering’s decision not to run for the Senate seat started him thinking about re-entering political life.

“It just opened the door for me that I didn’t think was there before,” Shows said. “I think this opportunity doesn’t come by very often — to have an open senate seat — and it’s something I feel ready to do. And I think I can win.”