PORTLAND (AP) – Democrat Ethan Strimling announced Thursday that he is running for Congress for the 1st District seat being vacated by Tom Allen.

Strimling, a state senator from Portland, kicked off his candidacy with a series of events across southern Maine, including a noontime rally in Portland.

“I’m asking you to join me in this campaign to bring real change, and real hope, to the people in Maine who deserve it the most,” said Strimling.

Strimling’s oficial announcement came more than four months after he formed an exploratory committee for the campaign.

He joins York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence, former state Senate leaders Chellie Pingree and Michael Brennan, and Portland lawyer Adam Cote who have already announced their candidacies to be the Democratic nominee.

Republican candidates are Eliot businessman Dean Scontras and former regional Small Business Administration chief Charlie Summers.

Strimling, 39, announced in May that he had formed an exploratory committee on whether to run.

Although he hasn’t been an official candidate, his campaign has been raising money, sending out e-mails and soliciting support.

At the Portland rally, Strimling said he spent the past four months visiting people around the district and listening to their concerns and hopes. He told supporters that people are struggling with health care, education costs and high taxes, among other things, and feel that they aren’t being listened to in Washington.

Strimling is executive director of Portland West, a social service agency that works with at-risk kids and low-income families. He has been a state senator since 2002.

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