State Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, is the latest Tennessee Democrat who says he’s considering running for U.S. Senate next year following Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker’s announcement Tuesday that he won’t seek a third term.

Yarbro, who’s in his first term in the Tennessee legislature, confirmed in a statement Wednesday that he is giving the open seat a look.

“The United States Senate is broken,” Yarbro said. “They’re putting party before country and politics ahead of people. No single person can fix Washington, but all of us have to do our part. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be talking with my family and meeting with folks across the state to determine what my part should be.”

More:Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke mulling Democratic Senate run to replace Corker

Yarbro’s interest comes as Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Nashville businessman and Democratic donor Bill Freeman have said they are also considering runs now that Corker is vacating the seat.

Nashville attorney James Mackler, an Iraq combat veteran, is the lone Democrat who has declared his candidacy for Corker’s seat in 2018. He announced this spring and has already reported raising more than $450,000 for his bid.

But the sudden vacancy has led Democrats to re-examine whether other more seasoned politicos might be interested in running for the seat.

Yarbro, 40, was first elected to his Senate seat in 2014 after narrowly losing a Democratic primary challenge of Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, in 2010. He faces reelection for his state Senate seat next year.

More:Who will jump in race to replace U.S. Sen. Bob Corker? Intrigue starts with Haslam, Blackburn

Yarbro is considered a top star among a depleted bench for Tennessee Democrats, who have seen Republicans dominate elections in the Volunteer State for the past two decades.

From the Senate side, Yarbro has helped lead the call for Medicaid expansion, among other Democratic causes that he’s championed.

Mayor Megan Barry, former Nashville Mayor and current gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee, and former Gov. Phil Bredesen have each said they won’t run for the Senate seat next year.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessena.com and on Twitter @joeygarrison.