State Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, announced Monday he plans to challenge U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley for his senate seat in 2016.

Hogg, who has served in the Iowa Legislature since 2003, has been traveling around the state to explore a candidacy for the past several months. 

A news release from Hogg says he plans to visit 12 counties across Iowa in his announcement tour. Planned stops on the tour include Callender, Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington, Ottumwa, Creston, Council Bluffs and Atlantic.

Hogg will be in Ames to attend the Story County central committee meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at the YSS Jacobson Building located at 420 Kellogg Ave.

Grassley, 82, has served six terms in the U.S. Senate and is running for reelection. Grassley has quietly held some fundraising events and appeared with several 2016 presidential candidates.

Grassley was last reelected in 2010 with almost 65 percent of the vote, defeating Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin. Roll Call rates Iowa’s senate race as “safe Republican.”