Can you feel the excitement? Yeah, me neither.

(Reuters) – Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the longest-serving independent member of the U.S. Congress, will announce his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, Vermont Public Radio reported on Tuesday.

He will release a short statement and hold a campaign kickoff event in subsequent weeks, VPR said, citing several sources.

With former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looming as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, few other candidates have stepped forward in the party. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is expected to enter the race next month.