JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A Republican state senator has announced plans to run for governor in Alaska.

Sen. Mike Dunleavy of Wasilla on Monday filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission a letter of intent to run.

The election will be held next year. Gov. Bill Walker, a Republican-turned-independent, has not formally announced whether he’ll seek

re-election.

Walker told reporters Monday that he is focused on getting a state capital budget passed.

Dunleavy had been flirting with the idea of running for governor for some time.

Earlier this year, he left the Senate’s Republican-led maj...