Madison Mayor Paul Soglin says he will be announcing next week that he's running for governor.
Soglin tells The Associated Press on Thursday he's hired a campaign manager and plans to get into the crowded Democratic primary ``barring unforeseen circumstances.''
Soglin has long promised he would join the race sometime in January. His hiring of a campaign manager with experience in previous statewide races shows he's serious about the governor's race
.Soglin is up for re-election as mayor in April 2019. Soglin says he will announce later whether he plans to run for re-election.
Soglin was first elected mayor in 1973 and has served on and off in the position for 20 years. Walker is seeking his third term as governor.