State Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) is officially exploring a run for U.S. Senate in 2022. 

Just one week after he filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission for U.S. Senate, Street formally announced his exploratory committee on Friday. 

“I will get votes in rural Pennsylvania and energize urban Pennsylvania,” Street in a press release. “We will engage Pennsylvanians in all counties and build out an agenda driven by communities. A movement by the people, for the people will move this Commonwealth forward.”

His exploratory committee features over 100 leaders from 24 counties in the commonwealth including Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), former Congressman Bob Brady, state Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), state Sens. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), John Kane (D-Chester), John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia), Tina Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia), Anthony Hardy Williams (D-Philadelphia) and more.

“There are a lot of people who have announced,” Brady said on Friday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “There are a lot of people who may announce. But nobody can surpass him.”

Street, son of former Philadelphia Mayor John Street, is currently serving in his second term in the state Senate and also serves as Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. 

In a previous interview with PoliticsPA about him filing a statement of candidacy, Street said the specific issues that are important matters that he will talk to the voters about were health care, cosponsoring the first bipartisan cannabis legalization bill in the state, clean energy, gun violence, and more. 

Although Street hasn’t formally launched a bid for the statewide office, multiple elected Democratic officials have announced a bid for the seat. 

Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), former Norristown Borough Council President John McGuigan have all launched their campaigns for Senate. According to the FEC website, Kevin Baumlin, Brandaun Dean, Larry Johnson, Alexandria Khalil, Kyle Norton, and Alan Shank have also filed statements of candidacy for the Democratic primary. 

Several other Democrats are reportedly weighing a run for the office as well. 

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, others potential Democratic candidates include Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester), Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny), and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. 

On the GOP side, Kathy Barnette, a former GOP congressional candidate and conservative commentator, Jeff Bartos, a Montgomery County real estate developer and former Lt. Governor candidate, Sean Gale, an attorney, and Everett Stern, a businessman and HSBC whistleblower, have formally announced their entrance into the race to succeed outgoing GOP Sen. Pat Toomey. Other Republicans that have filed with the FEC include John DeBellis, Bobby Jeffries, and Martin Rosenfeld. 

Other Republicans that are reportedly interested in seeking the GOP nomination according to Politico include, Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Butler), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny), former Congressman Ryan Costello (R-Chester), former Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite, former gubernatorial candidate Paul Mango, former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands, business consultant Craig Snyder, and former congressional candidate Sean Parnell.