Iowa Democrat Braley announces 2014 US Senate bid - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley says he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

Braley said Thursday in an email to potential supporters that the decision is "a big responsibility" and he's forming a fundraising committee to get started.

The Waterloo Democrat was elected to the House in 2006.

He has been eyeing a Senate run since 2010 and his announcement follows Harkin's Jan. 26 announcement that he will not seek a sixth term.

Braley had already said he was weighing a run, and he met last week in Washington with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and chairmen of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

In an interview with KTIV in late January, the 55-year old Braley said he had heard from Iowans all over the state encouraging him to run.  "It's a very important decision, so I'm going to be taking my time and giving it thoughtful consideration and at some point make a decision," he said.

Braley is the first candidate from either party to officially throw his hat into the ring for Harkin's seat.

Woodbury County Democratic Vice-Chair Penny Rosfjord said last month that Braley was the first person who came to mind when Harkin announced his retirement.  "He's young, he's energetic.  I think he'd be fabulous," she told KTIV.

Among Republicans, Iowa Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham are considering Senate campaigns.