Donna Edwards readying Senate run?

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) will announce on Tuesday she is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, The Washington Post is reporting.

{mosads}An Edwards spokesman told the Post that she is “seriously considering a run for the United States Senate and will make a decision in the coming days.”

Edwards, who was first elected in 2008, would join what could become a crowded Democratic field in the race. Her announcement would come less than a week after Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) said he would run for the seat.

The race has already drawn attention from Democratic leaders in Congress. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) said on Friday that she was trying to convince Van Hollen, who is an heir-apparent to her leadership, not to run. That same day, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) endorsed Van Hollen.

National progressive groups have been urging Edwards to get into the race, but it remains to be seen whether they will provide enough of a fundraising advantage to compete with Van Hollen and the $1.7 million he already has in his campaign account.

Other possible Democratic candidates for the seat include Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.). On the Republican side, Rep. Andy Harris (Md.) has expressed an interest in the seat.