Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney will announce on Monday that he is officially entering the 2025 race for the Democratic nomination for governor, becoming the second candidate in the race to replace term-limited Governor Phil Murphy in 2025.

The news, first reported by New Jersey Globe’s David Wildstein, comes two years after the former Senate president was ousted by Republican Edward Durr in a shocking election that made national headlines.

Durr himself lost his re-election bid in November.

Sweeney, who as Senate president was long considered the second most powerful man in New Jersey, has been in the New Jersey Senate for 20 years and served as Senate president for 12 years.

Sweeney will join Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop in the race which is expected to grow.