ANCHORAGE — Former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich is considering running as a write-in in this year’s crowded U.S. Senate race in Alaska.

Begich told Anchorage television station KTVA that people have been calling and urging him to enter the race. He says he will look to see what his options are, and adds he doesn’t have a timeframe for his decision. He didn’t immediately return a message Tuesday to The Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski won the Republican primary last month. Former state lawmaker Ray Metcalfe won the Democratic primary, but is at odds with party leadership. Immigration attorney Margaret Stock is running as an independent.

[Begich says he isn’t running for office]

The race was shaken up earlier this month when Libertarian candidate Cean Stevens dropped out of the race, and Joe Miller took her spot on the Libertarian ticket. Miller was the tea party favorite who upset Murkowski in the 2010 GOP primary only to see her mount a write-in candidacy to win the general election.

Begich, a Democrat, says he is not supporting Metcalfe in this year’s race. Begich defeated U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens in 2008 but Republicans regained the seat when Dan Sullivan beat Sullivan in 2014.

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